Removal of sulphur compounds from hydrocarbon streams using adsorbents and regeneration of the loaded adsorbents
First Claim
1. A process for removing water and sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream containing water and sulfur compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfides, mercaptans, especially C1-C6 mercaptans, organic disulfides, especially di-C1-C4-alkyl sulphides, organic disulfides, especially di-C1-C4-alkyl disulfides, thiophene compounds, aromatic mercaptans, especially phenyl mercaptan, and mixtures thereof, wherein the total amount of said sulfur compounds contained in the hydrocarbon stream is up to 3 vol %, based on total hydrocarbon stream, by adsorbing at least 60 wt % of the water contained in said hydrocarbon stream therefrom onto a first zeolite having a pore diameter of less than 5 Å
- ; and
thereafter, contacting said hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent comprising a second zeolite having a pore diameter of at least 5 Å
to adsorb the sulfur compounds thereon to thereby provide a loaded adsorbent, followed by a regeneration of said loaded adsorbent in the presence of water by contacting said loaded adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream comprising an inert gas or an inert gas mixture having a relative humidity of between 5% and 60%, said regeneration being conducted at a temperature of between 200 and 400°
C. and a pressure between 30 and 120 bara, whereby an absorbent having significantly reduced degradation/ageing is obtained.
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Abstract
The invention concerns a process for the removal of sulphur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream, especially a gaseous hydrocarbon gas stream, comprising said sulphur compounds, which process comprises contacting said gas stream with an adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of at least 5 Å to adsorb the sulphur compounds thereon, the adsorption process followed by a regeneration process of used, loaded adsorbent by contacting the said loaded adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream having a relative water humidity less than 100%, especially less than 80%. Suitably the regeneration is followed by a dry regeneration treatment. The invention further relates to a process for the regeneration of adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of at least 5 Å loaded with sulphur compounds by contacting the adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream having a relative water humidity less than 100%, especially less than 80%. Suitably the regeneration is followed by a dry regeneration treatment.
25 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for removing water and sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream containing water and sulfur compounds selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfides, mercaptans, especially C1-C6 mercaptans, organic disulfides, especially di-C1-C4-alkyl sulphides, organic disulfides, especially di-C1-C4-alkyl disulfides, thiophene compounds, aromatic mercaptans, especially phenyl mercaptan, and mixtures thereof, wherein the total amount of said sulfur compounds contained in the hydrocarbon stream is up to 3 vol %, based on total hydrocarbon stream, by adsorbing at least 60 wt % of the water contained in said hydrocarbon stream therefrom onto a first zeolite having a pore diameter of less than 5 Å
- ; and
thereafter, contacting said hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent comprising a second zeolite having a pore diameter of at least 5 Å
to adsorb the sulfur compounds thereon to thereby provide a loaded adsorbent, followed by a regeneration of said loaded adsorbent in the presence of water by contacting said loaded adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream comprising an inert gas or an inert gas mixture having a relative humidity of between 5% and 60%, said regeneration being conducted at a temperature of between 200 and 400°
C. and a pressure between 30 and 120 bara, whereby an absorbent having significantly reduced degradation/ageing is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A process for the regeneration of an adsorbent, wherein said process comprises:
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providing one or more vessels having a first adsorbent bed comprising a first zeolite having a pore diameter of 5 Å
or less and a second adsorbent bed comprising a second zeolite having a pore diameter of more than 5 Å
;using said one or more vessels in the removal of sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to provide said second zeolite that is loaded with sulfur compounds; and regenerating said second zeolite that is loaded with sulfur compounds by contacting the adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream having a relative water humidity of between 5% and 60% at a temperature of between 200 and 400°
C. and a pressure between 30 and 120 bara, whereby a second zeolite having a significantly reduced degradation/ageing is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A process for the removal of sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream, wherein said hydrocarbon stream is a gaseous stream and contains a sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, mercaptans, organic sulfides, organic disulfides, thiophene compounds, aromatic mercaptans and mixtures thereof, said process comprises:
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treating said hydrocarbon stream to remove water therefrom followed by contacting said hydrocarbon stream with an adsorbent comprising a zeolite having a pore diameter of at least 5 Å
to absorb said sulfur compound thereon to thereby provide a sulfur loaded adsorbent; andcontacting said sulfur loaded adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream having a relative humidity between 10 and 30%, wherein the regeneration gas comprises an inert gas, whereby a regenerated adsorbent is obtained having significantly reduced degradation/ageing is obtained. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A process for the regeneration of an adsorbent, which is loaded with a sulfur compound, by contacting the adsorbent with a regeneration gas stream having a relative water humidity of between 5 and 60% at a temperature of between 200 and 400°
- C. and a pressure between 30 and 120 bara, wherein said adsorbent is contained in at least two beds, with one bed comprising a first zeolite having a pore diameter of up to 5 Å
, and with a second bed comprising a second zeolite having a pore diameter of more than 5 Å
, whereby said regenerated absorbent has significantly reduced degradation/ageing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
- C. and a pressure between 30 and 120 bara, wherein said adsorbent is contained in at least two beds, with one bed comprising a first zeolite having a pore diameter of up to 5 Å
Specification