High-pressure sulfur recovery process
US6165436A · kind A · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB01D53/8612
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A process is provided for removing hydrogen sulfide out of a gas, such as natural gas. The hydrogen sulfide contaminated gas is contacted with a catalytic aqueous solution containing a polyvalent metal chelating agent under conditions in which the hydrogen sulfide is oxidized into elemental sulfur and the polyvalent metal chelating agent is reduced to a lower oxidation state, and the treated gas is recovered. The solution containing the polyvalent metal chelating agent and the elemental sulfur is filtered at a pressure of at least 1 Mpascals. At least a portion of the filtered solution containing the polyvalent metal chelating agent is degassed and/or depressurized for the removal of components such as light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide; contacted with an oxidizing agent and recycled back to the hydrogen sulfide removal step. By filtering the sulfur out of the solution at a pressure of at least 1 Mpascal, foam formation and clogging problems can be avoided.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.