Sulfur transformations during supercritical water oxidation of methanthiol and thiirane

The oxidation of methanthiol and thiirane in supercritical water was explored by using a tubular-flow reactor system using oxygen as oxidant. No sulfur containing species existed in the gaseous effluent. Sulfide, sulfite and sulfate were detected as the sulfur containing species in the liquid effluent for supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) of methannthiol, while it was determined as thiosulfate, sulfite and sulfate for SCWO of thiirane. When reaction temperature exceeded 873K, the sulfur contained in the methanthiol or thiirane all transformed into the liquid products. Oxidant stoichiometric ratio had little effect on the conversion rate of sulfur but could promoted sulfite converted into sulfate. Sulfide and thiosulfate were determined as the exclusive sulfur containing product arising directly from methanthiol and thiirane, respectively. The transformation pathways of sulfur contained in the methanthiol and thiirane were proposed as methanthiol-sulfide-sulfite-sulfate and thiirane-thiosulfate-sulfite-sulfate, respectively.