Method and apparatus for removing H.sub.2 S from a process gas and recovering sulfur
First Claim
1. In a process for removing H2 S and recovering sulfur from an H2 S-containing process gas wherein the sulfur is melting in a sulfur melting device for separation of sulfur from water including:
- intimately contacting the process gas with an aqueous polyvalent metal redox solution to absorb the H2 S into the polyvalent metal redox solution, while simultaneously forming a reduced polyvalent metal redox solution, and subsequently oxidizing the reduced polyvalent metal redox solution sufficiently to regenerate the polyvalent metal redox solution, to form an oxygenated polyvalent metal redox solution capable of again absorbing H2 S from said process gas, and to convert dissolved H2 S to elemental sulfur, including the steps of;
separating the elemental sulfur from a majority of the polyvalent metal redox solution; and
washing the polyvalent metal redox solution from the sulfur with wash water;
the improvement comprising;
recovering the wash water and polyvalent metal redox solution removed from the sulfur for recycle to the process;
introducing the recovered wash water and the polyvalent metal redox solution removed from the sulfur to an evaporator, to evaporate sufficient wash water therefrom such that the polyvalent metal redox solution remaining in the evaporator is sufficiently concentrated for further absorption of H2 S from the process gas, and removing the evaporated water from the evaporator;
condensing the evaporated water removed from the evaporator as pure condensed water;
using the pure condensed water as said wash water for washing the elemental sulfur;
recovering the polyvalent metal redox solution from the evaporator; and
recycling the recovered polyvalent metal redox solution for further absorption of H2 S from the process gas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A catalytic polyvalent metal redox solution can be recovered and re-used in a catalytic polyvalent metal redox solution H2 S-removal, sulfur production process by interposing a closed loop evaporator/condenser process and apparatus in the sulfur washing/filtering/recovery process and apparatus so that wash water used to purify the sulfur, and any polyvalent metal redox solution recovered from the sulfur melter are fed to an evaporator to concentrate the redox solution to a concentration capable of effective absorption of H2 S, and the water evaporated in the evaporator is condensed as pure water for use in washing and/or filtering the recovered sulfur.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a process for removing H2 S and recovering sulfur from an H2 S-containing process gas wherein the sulfur is melting in a sulfur melting device for separation of sulfur from water including:
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intimately contacting the process gas with an aqueous polyvalent metal redox solution to absorb the H2 S into the polyvalent metal redox solution, while simultaneously forming a reduced polyvalent metal redox solution, and subsequently oxidizing the reduced polyvalent metal redox solution sufficiently to regenerate the polyvalent metal redox solution, to form an oxygenated polyvalent metal redox solution capable of again absorbing H2 S from said process gas, and to convert dissolved H2 S to elemental sulfur, including the steps of; separating the elemental sulfur from a majority of the polyvalent metal redox solution; and washing the polyvalent metal redox solution from the sulfur with wash water;
the improvement comprising;recovering the wash water and polyvalent metal redox solution removed from the sulfur for recycle to the process; introducing the recovered wash water and the polyvalent metal redox solution removed from the sulfur to an evaporator, to evaporate sufficient wash water therefrom such that the polyvalent metal redox solution remaining in the evaporator is sufficiently concentrated for further absorption of H2 S from the process gas, and removing the evaporated water from the evaporator; condensing the evaporated water removed from the evaporator as pure condensed water; using the pure condensed water as said wash water for washing the elemental sulfur; recovering the polyvalent metal redox solution from the evaporator; and recycling the recovered polyvalent metal redox solution for further absorption of H2 S from the process gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In an apparatus for effecting mass transfer of a liquid reagent sequentially with two different gases in a separate mass transfer zone for each gas without permitting both gases to contact the same portion of the liquid simultaneously, including a first mass transfer zone for mass transfer between a liquid reagent and a sulfur-containing gas into the first mass transfer zone;
- a second mass transfer zone in liquid, but not vapor, communication with the first mass transfer zone;
means for directing the liquid reagent from the first mass transfer zone into the second mass transfer zone;
means for directing a second gas into the second mass transfer zone for intimate contact and mass transfer therebetween;
includingmeans for recovering sulfur from the first or second mass transfer zone; means for separating the recovered sulfur from the liquid reagent; and means for washing the sulfur;
the improvement comprising;means for recovering sulfur wash water and liquid reagent from the sulfur; means for separating a portion of the sulfur wash water, in non-contaminated form, from the liquid reagent; and means for recycling the separated wash water to the sulfur washing means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- a second mass transfer zone in liquid, but not vapor, communication with the first mass transfer zone;
Specification