System for removal of hydrogen sulfide from a gas stream
First Claim
1. A system for removing H2 S from a gaseous stream, comprising:
- absorber means for receiving and contacting the H2 S-containing gaseous stream with a sorbing liquor comprising a nonaqueous solvent containing dissolved sulfur, and a base having sufficient strength and concentration to drive the reaction converting H2 S sorbed by said liquor to a nonvolatile polysulfide which is soluble in the sorbing liquor;
regenerator means downstream of said absorber means for oxidizing said sorbing liquor containing the dissolved polysulfide to convert said polysulfide to sulfur which remains dissolved in said liquor;
sulfur conversion means downstream of said regenerator means for converting at least part of said dissolved sulfur to solid particulate sulfur; and
separating and recycling means downstream of said regenerator means for separating said solid sulfur from the liquor and returning the regenerated liquor to said absorber means for recycling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A 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.
119 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A system for removing H2 S from a gaseous stream, comprising:
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absorber means for receiving and contacting the H2 S-containing gaseous stream with a sorbing liquor comprising a nonaqueous solvent containing dissolved sulfur, and a base having sufficient strength and concentration to drive the reaction converting H2 S sorbed by said liquor to a nonvolatile polysulfide which is soluble in the sorbing liquor; regenerator means downstream of said absorber means for oxidizing said sorbing liquor containing the dissolved polysulfide to convert said polysulfide to sulfur which remains dissolved in said liquor; sulfur conversion means downstream of said regenerator means for converting at least part of said dissolved sulfur to solid particulate sulfur; and separating and recycling means downstream of said regenerator means for separating said solid sulfur from the liquor and returning the regenerated liquor to said absorber means for recycling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification