Process for removal of hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream
First Claim
1. A process for removing H2 S from a gaseous stream, comprising the steps of:
- (a) contacting the H2 S-containing gaseous stream with a sorbing liquor comprising a nonaqueous solvent containing dissolved sulfur, and a base consisting essentially of a tertiary amine having sufficient strength and concentration to drive the reaction converting H2 S sorbed by said liquor and reacting with said dissolved sulfur, to form nonvolatile polysulfide which is soluble in the sorbing liquor;
(b) converting the dissolved nonvolatile polysulfide in said sorbing liquor to sulfur which remains dissolved in said liquor by contacting said liquor from step (a) with an oxidizing gas;
(c) converting at least part of said dissolved sulfur in the liquor from step (b) to solid particulate sulfur; and
(d) separating said solid sulfur from step (c) from the liquor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and system for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream such as one of natural gas. A sour gas stream containing H2 S is contacted with a nonaqueous, water-insoluble sorbing liquor which comprises an organic solvent for elemental sulfur, dissolved elemental sulfur, an organic base to promote the reactions, and an organic solubilizing agent an agent suitable for maintaining the solubility of polysulfide intermediates which may otherwise separate when they are formed during operation of the process. Hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) gas is sorbed into this liquor and then reacts with the dissolved sulfur in the presence of the base to form polysulfide molecules. The solution is then sent to a reactor where sufficient residence time is provided to allow the polysulfide forming reactions to reach the desired degree of completion. From the reactor, the solution flows to a regenerator where the solution is oxidized (e.g., by contact with air), forming dissolved elemental sulfur and water. The temperature of the solution is then lowered, forming sulfur crystals, which are easily removed by gravity settling, filtration, centrifuge, or other separation method. Enough sulfur remains dissolved in the solution following removal of the sulfur crystals that when this solution is reheated and returned to the absorber a sufficient amount of sulfur is present to react with the inlet H2 S gas.
105 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A process for removing H2 S from a gaseous stream, comprising the steps of:
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(a) contacting the H2 S-containing gaseous stream with a sorbing liquor comprising a nonaqueous solvent containing dissolved sulfur, and a base consisting essentially of a tertiary amine having sufficient strength and concentration to drive the reaction converting H2 S sorbed by said liquor and reacting with said dissolved sulfur, to form nonvolatile polysulfide which is soluble in the sorbing liquor; (b) converting the dissolved nonvolatile polysulfide in said sorbing liquor to sulfur which remains dissolved in said liquor by contacting said liquor from step (a) with an oxidizing gas; (c) converting at least part of said dissolved sulfur in the liquor from step (b) to solid particulate sulfur; and (d) separating said solid sulfur from step (c) from the liquor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification