Process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content in geothermal steam
First Claim
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1. A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam comprising the steps of:
- introducing an oxygen-containing gas into steam produced by a geothermal source, said steam comprising water vapor and hydrogen sulfide and having a temperature of at least about 300°
F.;
said oxygen-containing gas being introduced into said steam in an amount to provide a molar ratio of oxygen-to-hydrogen sulfide in the steam and oxygen-containing gas to be at least about 10; and
,contacting the steam and oxygen containing gas in a contacting stage with iron oxide supported by a carrier resistant to deterioration by said steam under conditions sufficient to remove hydrogen sulfide from said steam and oxygen containing gas.
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Abstract
A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam utilizes iron oxide supported by a carrier resistant to deterioration by the geothermal steam. The process includes the addition of an oxygen-containing gas to the geothermal steam before contacting the steam with the iron oxide at a temperature of at least about 300° F. The amount of oxygen added to the geothermal steam is sufficient to make the molar ratio of oxygen-to-hydrogen sulfide in the steam to be at least about 10.
11 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from geothermal steam comprising the steps of:
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introducing an oxygen-containing gas into steam produced by a geothermal source, said steam comprising water vapor and hydrogen sulfide and having a temperature of at least about 300°
F.;
said oxygen-containing gas being introduced into said steam in an amount to provide a molar ratio of oxygen-to-hydrogen sulfide in the steam and oxygen-containing gas to be at least about 10; and
,contacting the steam and oxygen containing gas in a contacting stage with iron oxide supported by a carrier resistant to deterioration by said steam under conditions sufficient to remove hydrogen sulfide from said steam and oxygen containing gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of geothermal steam comprising the steps of:
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introducing an oxygen-containing gas into steam produced by a geothermal source, said steam comprising water vapor and hydrogen sulfide and having a temperature of at least about 300°
F.,said oxygen-containing gas being introduced into said steam in an amount to cause a molar ratio of oxygen-to-hydrogen sulfide in the steam and oxygen-containing gas to be at least about 10; contacting the steam and oxygen containing gas in a contacting stage with iron oxide supported on a carrier resistant to deterioration by said steam under conditions sufficient to reduce the hydrogen sulfide content of said steam and oxygen-containing gas; and
,withdrawing steam from the contacting stage, having a lower hydrogen sulfide content than the steam and oxygen-containing gas contacted with said iron oxide in the contacting stage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of geothermal steam comprising the steps of:
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introducing air into steam produced by a geothermal source, said steam comprising water vapor and hydrogen sulfide and having a temperature of at least about 300°
F. and a pressure of at least about 100 psi, said air being introduced into said steam in an amount to provide a molar ratio of oxygen to hydrogen sulfide in the steam and air to be at least about 10;contacting the steam and air in a contacting stage with iron oxyhydroxide at conditions sufficient to reduce the hydrogen sulfide content of said steam and air, said iron oxyhydroxide being supported on pumice; and
,withdrawing steam and air, from the contacting stage, having a lower hydrogen sulfide content than the steam and air contacted with said iron oxyhydroxide in the contacting stage.
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17. A process for reducing the hydrogen sulfide content of geothermal steam comprising the steps of:
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introducing air into steam produced by a geothermal source, said steam comprising water vapor and hydrogen sulfide and having a temperature of at least about 300°
F. and a pressure of at least about 100 psi, said air being introduced into said steam in an amount to provide a molar ratio of oxygen to hydrogen sulfide in the steam and air to be at least about 10;contacting the steam and air in a contacting stage with iron oxyhydroxide under conditions sufficient to reduce the hydrogen sulfide content of said steam and air, said iron oxide being supported on pumice; withdrawing steam from the contacting stage, having a lower hydrogen sulfide content than the steam and air contacted with said iron oxyhydroxide in the contacting state; and
,releasing the withdrawn steam and air into the atmosphere.
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Specification