Process for reduction of gaseous sulfur compounds

• US 20020178915A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engelhard Corporation (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Engelhard Corporation (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Shore, Lawrence, Farrauto, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,541,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 95/136
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/10 Inorganic adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/112 Metals or metal compounds not provided for in B01D2253/104 or B01D2253/106
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/304 Linear dimensions, e.g. particle shape, diameter
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/342 Monoliths
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/30 Sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/306 Organic sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/308 Carbonoxysulfide COS
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/40001 Methods relating to additional, e.g. intermediate, treatment of process gas
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2259/4146 Contiguous multilayered adsorbents
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/02 by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/52 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/02 comprising inorganic material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/0251 Compounds of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb B01J20/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/041 Oxides or hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/06 comprising oxides or hydroxides of metals not provided for in group B01J20/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/08 comprising aluminium oxide or hydroxide; comprising bauxite
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/10 comprising silica or silicate
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/103 comprising silica
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/16 Alumino-silicates B01J20/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/18 : Synthetic zeolitic molecular sieves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28004 : Sorbent size or size distribution, e.g. particle size
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28016 : Particle form
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28042 : Shaped bodies; Monolithic structures
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28045 : Honeycomb or cellular structures; Solid foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3078 : Thermal treatment, e.g. calcining or pyrolizing
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3204 : Inorganic carriers, supports or substrates
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3236 : containing metal, other than zeolites, e.g. oxides, hydroxides, sulphides or salts
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3289 : Coatings involving more than one layer of same or different nature
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2220/42 : Materials comprising a mixture of inorganic materials materials coated or impregnated on a carrier B01J20/32
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 502/517 : Sulfur or sulfur compound removal

Abstract

A process for the reduction of gaseous sulfur compounds in gaseous streams. The gaseous stream is contacted with a sorber, e.g., zinc oxide, which is capable of sorbing the sulfur compounds under sulfur sorbing conditions. The sorber is present in the form of one or more layers on the surface of a monolith carrier, e.g., cordierite. The layers of the sorber have a total thickness of at least 3 g/in³ of the carrier. The process is especially useful for the removal of gaseous sulfur compounds such as H₂S from gaseous streams.

Claims

1. In a process for the reduction of the level of gaseous sulfur compounds in a gaseous stream wherein the stream is contacted with a sorber capable of absorbing such compounds under sulfur sorbing conditions, the improvement which comprises carrying out said process with said sorber being present in the form of one or more layers on the surface of a monolith carrier, said layers having a total thickness of at least about 3 g/in³ of the carrier.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein at least three layers are present on the surface of the monolith carrier.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein the total thickness is at least 3.5 g/in³ of the carrier.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the sorber comprises one or more metal compounds wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of zinc, calcium, nickel, iron, copper and mixtures thereof.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein the metal comprises Zn.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the metal compound comprises zinc oxide.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein the metal compound comprises zinc titanate.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the gaseous sulfur compounds comprise H₂S.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the initial concentration of H₂S in the gas stream prior to contact with the sorber is about 0.15 to about 25 ppm and the stream is passed into contact with the sorber at a volumetric hourly rate of about 500 to about 100,000 volumes per volume of monolith carrier.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the initial concentration of H₂S in the gas stream prior to contact with the sorber is 0.25 to 10 ppm and the stream is passed into contact with the sorber at a volumetric hourly rate of 2,500 to 15,000 volumes per volume of carrier.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein the H₂S content of the gas stream after contact with the sorber is reduced to a level of less than about 100 ppb for a period of at least 1 hour.

12. The process of claim 11 wherein the H₂S content of the gas stream after contact with the sorber is reduced to a level of less than 50 ppb for a period of at least 4 hours.

13. The process of claim 1 wherein the sorber is present on the surface of the monolith carrier in the form of particles having an average particle size of 90%<

10μ

.

14. The process of claim 1 wherein the monolith carrier comprises a porous ceramic.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein the porous ceramic is present in the form of a foam.

16. The process of claim 14 wherein the porous ceramic is selected from the group consisting of alumina, alumina-silica, alumina-silica-titania, mullite, cordierite, zirconia, zirconia-ceria, zirconia-spinel, zirconia-mullite and silicon-carbide.

17. The process of claim 16 wherein the porous ceramic comprises cordierite.

18. The process of claim 1 wherein the monolith carrier comprises a heat- and oxidation-resistant metal.

19. The process of claim 18 wherein the metal is present in the form of a foam.

20. The process of claim 18 wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and iron/chromium alloy.