Process for selective adsorption of sulfur compounds from gaseous mixtures containing mercaptans

• US 4,999,175 A
• Filed: 05/15/1989
• Issued: 03/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: European Atomic Energy Community A Multinational Body Corporate of Luxembourg
• Original Assignee: The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)
• Inventors: de Bievre, Paul, van Gompel, Remi, Vansant, Etienne, Peeters, Guido
• Primary Examiner(s): HELLER, GREGORY
• Application Number:
  US07/352,144
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 423/243, 423/244 A, 423/244 R, 423/242 A, 423/242 R, 423/245.1, 423/230
• US Class Current: 423/242.7
• 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 20/3248 the functional group or the linking, spacer or anchoring group as a whole comprising at least one type of heteroatom selected from a nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur, these atoms not being part of the carrier as such
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/3251 comprising at least two different types of heteroatoms selected from nitrogen, oxygen or sulphur
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 319/28 Separation; Purification
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 321/04 of an acyclic saturated carbon skeleton
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0047 for organic compounds

Abstract

A process for separating sulfur-containing compounds other than mercaptans from gaseous streams. A gaseous stream including mercaptans and other sulfur-containing compounds is brought into contact with a solid supporting material coated with a thin layer of an amine-containing active agent capable of selectively adsorbing the sulfur-containing compounds other than mercaptans. This process permits the monitoring of mercaptans in gaseous streams without interference from other sulfur-containing compounds, as well as the purification of mercaptans.

Claims

1. Process for separating other sulfur compounds from a gaseous mixture containing one or more mercaptans, and other sulfur compounds, characterized in that the gaseous mixture is treated with an impregnated solid material suitable for selective adsorption of the sulfur compounds SO₂, H₂ S, CS₂, and COS;

said impregnated solid material comprising a solid material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, clay minerals, zeolites, and mixtures thereof, as well as an active agent selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, derivatives of these amines, and metal-containing complexes of these amines and derivatives;

said solid material being impregnated with said active agent in an amount from 1 to 10 mmol of active agent per gram of solid material.

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the active agent is chosen from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and ethylenediamine.

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the mercaptans are continuously monitored in a matrix gas comprising SO₂, H₂ S, and either CS₂ or COS or both, using a sulfur monitor.

4. Process according to claim 1, wherein said amount of active agent is from approximately 5-8 mmol/g of solid material.

5. Process for purifying mercaptan, comprising the step of bringing a gaseous mixture containing mercaptan into contact with an impregnated solid material suitable for selective adsorption of the sulfur compounds SO₂, H₂ S, CS₂, and COS;

said impregnated solid material comprising a solid material selected from the group consisting of silica, alumina, clay minerals, zeolites, and mixtures thereof, as well as an active agent selected from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, ethylenediamine, derivatives of these amines, and metal-containing complexes of these amines and derivatives;

said solid material being impregnated with said active agent in an amount from 1 to 10 mmol of active agent per gram of solid material.

6. Process according to claim 5, characterized in that the active agent is chosen from the group consisting of monoethanolamine, diethanolamine and ethylediamine.

7. Process according to claim 5, wherein said amount of active agent is from approximately 5-8 mmol/g of solid material.