Production of sodium hydrosulfide

A continuous process for producing sodium hydrosulfide by the reaction of gaseous hydrogen sulfide with a solution of sodium sulfide comprising establishing, in a closed reaction system including a reaction chamber, an aqueous product solution resulting from the reaction of hydrogen sulfide with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfide and maintaining said reaction system in an unvented condition while maintaining a source of hydrogen sulfide, containing one or more other gases inert to the reaction in an amount not more than about 5 percent, in pressure demand relationship with said product solution in said reaction chamber and while continuously introducing a quantity of aqueous sodium sulfide feed solution into said reaction system and continuously withdrawing a corresponding quantity of product solution from said system, and periodically venting the reaction system to purge the system of accumulated gases which do not react with the sodium sulfide solution.