Electrochemical reduction of sulfur from sulfur-containing solid carbon-based materials

Abstract

A process for removing sulfur from a sulfur-containing solid carbon-based material includes adding a sulfur-containing solid carbon-based material to an aqueous electrolyte solution comprising an effective amount of an electrolyte in an electrochemical cell, and subjecting the aqueous electrolyte solution to an effective voltage and current to at least partially oxidize at least a portion of sulfur in the sulfur-containing solid carbon-based material, thereby generating oxidized sulfur and a reduced sulfur-containing solid carbon-based material. The reduced sulfur-containing solid carbon-based material has a lower sulfur content by wt. % than the sulfur- containing solid carbon-based material.

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