Method for removing contaminants from gas flows containing water

• US 8,597,407 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2009
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BASF SE
• Original Assignee: BASF SE
• Inventors: Hatscher, Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Christopher P
• Application Number:
  US13/140,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20110247493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,454 Days
• Field of Search: 95/90, 961/47, 502/400, 502/406
• US Class Current: 95/90
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/112 Metals or metal compounds not provided for in B01D2253/104 or B01D2253/106
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2253/311 Porosity, e.g. pore volume
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/20761 Copper
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2255/9205 Porosity
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/20 Halogens or halogen compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/30 Sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/304 Hydrogen sulfide
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/306 Organic sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2257/308 Carbonoxysulfide COS
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/04 with stationary adsorbents B01D53/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/82 with stationary reactants
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 53/8603 Removing sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 20/28083 being in the range 2-50 nm, i.e. mesopores
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/10 Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/102 of acid contaminants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0675 Removal of sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The invention relates to adsorbents for removing impurities from water-comprising gas streams, in particular for use in fuel cell systems, wherein the adsorbents comprise oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Mg, Ba, Zr, Ce, La or combinations of these elements, have a copper oxide content of at least 30% by weight and have pore volumes of less than 0.175 ml·g⁻¹ for pores having a radius of less than 20 nm.

Claims

1. A process for removing impurities from water-comprising gas streams which comprises contacting the water-comprising gas streams with adsorbents comprising oxides of elements selected from the group consisting of Cu, Fe, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Mg, Ba, Zr, Ce, La and combinations of these elements, which adsorbents have a copper oxide content of at least 30% by weight and have pore volumes of less than 0.175 ml·

g<sup>−

1</sup> for pores having a radius of less than 20 nm which adsorbents are obtained by a process comprising the following steps;

a) producing a solution of the components of an adsorption mass and/or of soluble starting compounds thereof,

b) precipitating a solid from the solution by adding a base,

c) separating off the precipitated product,

d) washing the precipitated product,

e) drying the precipitated product,

f) calcining the precipitated product to form a pretreated powder,

g) precompacting and tableting the pretreated powder to give tablets, and

h) recalcination of the tablets at a temperature up to 650°

C.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent comprises 30% by weight to 50% by weight of CuO, 30% by weight to 45% by weight of ZnO and 5% by weight to 40% by weight of Al₂O₃.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent comprises 50% by weight to 80% by weight of CuO, 10% by weight to 40% by weight of ZnO and 1% by weight to 10% by weight of ZrO₂.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the adsorbent comprises 30% by weight to 60% by weight of CuO, 10% by weight to 30% by weight of MgO and 10% by weight to 60% by weight of SiO₂.