Methods and systems for separating hydrogen and sulfur from hydrogen sulfide(H.sub.2S) gas. Hydrogen sulfide(H.sub.2S) gas is passed into a scrubber and filtration unit with polysulfide solution. Interaction frees elemental sulfur which is filtered, excess continues to a stripper unit where the excess H.sub.2S is removed. The excess H.sub.2S returns to the scrubber and filtration unit, while the sulfide solution passes into a photoreactor containing a photocatalyst and a light source. The sulfide solution is oxidatively converted to elemental sulfur and complexed with excess sulfide ion to make polysulfide ion, while water is reduced to hydrogen. Hydrogen is released, while the polysulfide solution is fed back to the scrubber unit where the system operation repeats. In a second embodiment, the photocatalyst is eliminated, and the hydrogen sulfide solution is directly illuminated with ultraviolet radiation with a light source such as a low pressure mercury lamp operating at approximately 254 nm.