IMPROVEMENTS TO DECOMPOSITION OF WATER

摘要

Process for decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen by (1) reacting hydrogen sulfide with cuprous sulfide to produce said hydrogen and cupric sulfide according to the equation H2S + Cu2S -> H2+2CuS; (2) decomposing said cupric sulfide to produce said cuprous sulfide and sulfur according to the equation 2CuS -> Cu2S + S; (3) reacting said sulfur with water to produce said hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide according to the equation 3S + 2H2O -> 2H2S + SO2; (4) reacting said sulfur dioxide with water to produce sulfur and sulfuric acid according to the equation 3SO2 + 2H2O -> S + 2H2SO4; and (5) decomposing said sulfuric acid to produce said sulfur dioxide, water, and said oxygen according to the equation 2H2SO4 -> 2SO2 + O2 + 2H2O. …This process utilizes lower temperatures and is more thermally efficient than prior thermal processes.