Kinetics and mechanism of the decomposition of H2S, CH3SH and (CH3)2S in a radio-frequency pulse discharge

The decomposition of H2S by a short-lived radio-frequency pulse has been investigated. The main primary dissociation is H2S → 2H + S and the most important subsequent reactions are: H + H2S → SH + H2(4); H + HS → H2+ S (6); 2SH → S + H2S (8); 2S + M → S2+ M (10); and 2S2+ M → S4+ M (11). Computer simulation gives as best rate constant values: k4= 5.0 × 108 mol–1 dm3 s–1; k6= 1.3 × 1010 mol–1 dm3 s–1; k8= 1.9 × 1010 mol–1 dm3 s–1; k10= 4.3 × 1012 mol–2 dm6 s–1; and k11= 8 × 1012 mol–2 dm6 s–1. The decomposition of CH3SH and (CH3)2S was also studied with particular reference to the primary processes.