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Title: Electrochemical polishing of hydrogen sulfide from coal synthesis gas

Conference ·
OSTI ID:125377

An advanced process has been developed for the separation of H{sub 2}S from coal gasification product streams through an electrochemical membrane. This technology is developed for use in coal gasification facilities providing fuel for cogeneration coal fired electrical power facilities and Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell electrical power facilities. H{sub 2}S is removed from the syn-gas by reduction to the sulfide ion and H at the cathode. The sulfide ion migrates to the anode through a molten salt electrolyte suspended in an inert ceramic matrix. Once at the anode it is oxidized to elemental sulfur and swept away for condensation in an inert gas stream. The syn-gas is enriched with the H{sub 2}. Order-of-magnitude reductions in H{sub 2}S have been repeatably recorded (100 ppm to 10 ppm H{sub 2}S) on a single pass through the cell. This process allows removal of H{sub 2}S without cooling the gas stream and with negligible pressure loss through the separator. Since there are no absorbents used, there is no absorption/regeneration step as with conventional technology. Elemental sulfur is produced as a by-product directly, so there is no need for a Claus process for sulfur recovery. This makes the process economically attractive since it is much less equipment intensive than conventional technology.

Research Organization:
Georgia Tech Research Inst., Atlanta, GA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-94PC94207
OSTI ID:
125377
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/94207-96/C0547; CONF-9506162-25; ON: DE96004008; TRN: 95:008093
Resource Relation:
Conference: Advanced coal-fired power systems `95 review meeting, Morgantown, WV (United States), 27-29 Jun 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English