Journal of Geoscience and Eco Agricultural Studies

Abstract

This study proposes a subsea processing architecture for the safe conversion of dissolved hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and elemental sulfur without surface exposure. Hydrogen sulfide, commonly present in stratified aquatic environments such as the Black Sea, poses severe environmental and operational risks when transported or processed at the surface.

The proposed system operates in a depth-constrained mid-water regime, avoiding both seabed installation and biologically active surface layers. Hydrogen sulfide is locally extracted and subjected to a thermally sustained decomposition process, in which a small controlled fraction is oxidized to provide the energy required for continuous conversion. A simple thermodynamic estimate based on formation enthalpies indicates that only a minor oxidation fraction (on the order of 5–10%) is sufficient to sustain the process.

The system eliminates hazardous gas transport, prevents human exposure, and produces manageable output streams of hydrogen and sulfur. This approach reframes hydrogen sulfide handling from a containment prob lem into a localized conversion process, offering a potentially safer and more environmentally compatible pathway for resource utilization in anoxic aquatic systems.