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Activated carbon passes tests for acid-gas cleanup

Journal Article · · Oil and Gas Journal
OSTI ID:253700
;  [1]
  1. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., Dhahran (Saudi Arabia)
Use of activated carbon to remove hydrocarbon contaminants from the acid-gas feed to Claus sulfur-recovery units has been successfully pilot tested in Saudi Arabia. Pilot plant results are discussed here along with issues involved in scale-up to commercial size. Heavy hydrocarbons, particularly benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) have been linked to coke formation and catalyst deactivation in Claus converters. This deactivation results in reduced sulfur recovery and increased sulfur emissions from these plants. This clean-up process was proven to be capable of removing 95% of the BTX and other C{sub 6}+s from acid gas over a wide range of actual plant conditions. Following the adsorption step, the activated carbon was easily regenerated by use of low-pressure steam. A post-regeneration drying step using plant fuel gas also proved beneficial. The paper discusses feed contaminants, vapor-phase cleanup, testing design, test parameters and results, bed drying after regeneration, regeneration conditions, basic flow, system control, and full-scale installation.
OSTI ID:
253700
Journal Information:
Oil and Gas Journal, Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal Journal Issue: 26 Vol. 94; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English