Hydrogen sulfide
(H2S) is highly toxic and one of the
problematic impurities in industrial gas streams, calling for H2S removal down to single-digit ppm levels to protect health
and environment, and not to harm to the downstream processes. Here,
we discuss the recent developments and challenges of current H2S removal technologies. Furthermore, we present a comprehensive
review of H2S removal in ionic liquids (ILs), IL-based
solvents/adsorbents/membranes, and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) due
to their unique advantages. We analyze theoretical studies to better
understand the microscopic details behind H2S removal.
We discuss new research on IL/DES-based H2S removal processes
from an industrial perspective. Finally, we summarize the utilization
of H2S in IL/DES-based systems for the recovery of sulfur
and hydrogen, and synthesis of value-added chemicals. This review
will provide both general and in-depth knowledge of the achievements,
difficulties, and research priorities in developing novel ILs/DESs
for efficient and sustainable H2S removal and utilization.