Process for removal of sour gases by scrubbing

US4399111A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Linde GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Karl Baur · Baierbrunn, DE
• Eberhard Lassmann · Pullach, DE
• Heinz Karwat · Pullach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 14, 1982
• Grant date: Aug 16, 1983
• Expiry date: Apr 14, 2002

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/151
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In the removal of sour gases by scrubbing with an aqueous alkali metal salt solution, e.g. a solution of K.sub.2 CO.sub.3, the circulating scrubbing liquid is gradually contaminated with organic acids, especially formic acid, which in turn ties up K.sup.+ as the formate which is ineffective for scrubbing purposes. To remove the organic acids, at least a partial stream of the circulating scrubbing liquid is subjected to an oxidation step under conditions leading to the oxidation of the salts of the organic acids, thereby liberating the bound alkali metal ions. If the scrubbing liquid contains an oxidizable activator, the latter can be extracted prior to oxidation of the scrubbing liquid and added back subsequent to the oxidation.