Infra-red study of the interaction of hydrogen sulphide and water with a magnesium oxide surface

Abstract

The interaction of hydrogen sulphide with an anhydrous magnesium oxide surface has been examined by infra-red spectroscopy. Hydrogen sulphide appears to react first with the surface to form a water molecule in a configuration which immediately reacts to form hydroxyl groups; thionyl groups are not observed during the early stages of adsorption. These results led to a study of the rehydration of magnesium oxide by water vapour. A detailed analysis of the results shows a more complex situation than previously reported with two types of hydroxyl group and two conformations of water molecules present on the surface in equilibrium with water vapour.