Our investigation has aimed to identify the process involved in the H2
S - ZnO interaction by in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy at me sul
phur edge. Time resolved XANES show a progression from chemisorbed H2S
to ZnS and in-situ S K-edge EXAFS reveal an intermediate phase contai
ning a S - Zn distance of 2.71 Angstrom. NiO proceeds by a similar pat
hway after activation at 100 degrees C.