Computational study of the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulphide: Thermodynamics and kinetic constants estimation using ab initio calculations

Highlights: • OCS hydrolysis equilibrium constants were calculated using QM composite methods. • CBS-QB3 was found to be the most adequate method for OCS thermodynamic calculations. • Calculated hydrolysis yields decrease when temperature increases. • The isotopic effect is less significant than temperature or initial concentration dependences. - Abstract: Carbonyl sulphide is the predominant sulphur compound in the atmosphere, contributing to the formation of aerosol particles affecting global climate. Human activity has significantly increased its total amount since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution due to its presence in petroleum and coal, reason why it is necessary to understand and control its emissions. On the other hand, carbonyl sulphide is an undesired substance for catalysis in important industrial processes. Hydrolysis is the most promising among the different strategies to reduce its presence, giving as products carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. In the present work, the mechanism of reaction of carbonyl sulphide hydrolysis process in gas phase was studied from 400 K to 1500 K, equilibrium constants were obtained and reaction yields were estimated, by means of composite quantum-computational methods. Good agreement with literature experimental results confirms the suitability of the chosen methods, specially CBS-QB3, in supporting the reaction mechanism, giving accurate equilibrium constant values, and obtaining realistic yields. The effect of isotopic substitution in OCS was also studied, from 300 K to 1500 K, being much less significant than temperature dependence.