Activated carbon process for removing hydrogen sulfide from gases

US5256384A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Metallgesellschaft AG · DE

Inventors

• Dietrich Rolke · Hofheim, DE
• Peter Cornel · Oberursel, DE
• Rainer Lell · Nidderau, DE
• Klaus Stetzer · Dreieich, DE
• Gabriele Neuroth · Frankfurt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 1992
• Grant date: Oct 26, 1993
• Expiry date: Mar 26, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B01D53/8612
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

To a gas which contains H.sub.2 S and water vapor and which is to be desulfurized oxygen is added at such a rate that the gas contains 1 to 20 moles O.sub.2 per mole of H.sub.2 S. At a temperature in the range of 50.degree. to 180.degree. C. the gas is contacted with activated carbon, which is thus laden with elemental sulfur and with at least 3% by weight sulfuric acid. In a suitable processing, the gas which is to be desulfurized and contains at least 1000 ppm H.sub.2 S+SO.sub.2 is initially passed at a temperature from 100.degree. to 180.degree. C. through a catalytic prepurifier, in which elemental sulfur is adsorbed on a high-metal-oxide catalyst, oxygen is admixed to the gas coming from the prepurifier and the gas at a temperature of 50.degree. to 180.degree. is contacted with the activated carbon for a final desulfurization.