Removal of H{sub2}S from geothermal steam by catalytic oxidation process: bench scale testing results. Interim report

Technical Report · Wed Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6161336· OSTI ID:6161336

Li, C T; Brouns, R A

A process was investigated to remove hydrogen sulfide (H{sub2}S) from geothermal steam. This process is an upstream steam treatment process which utilizes a catalytic oxidation reaction to convert H{sub2}S in geothermal steam to water vapor and sulfur. The process consists of passing geothermal steam, containing H{sub2}S and other noncondensible gases, through fixed beds of activated carbon catalyst. Oxygen is provided by injection of air or oxygen upstream of the catalyst beds. The treated steam, with H{sub2}S being almost completely removed, passes to steam turbines for power generation. The elemental sulfur produced deposits on the catalyst surface and is retained. The catalyst activity decreases gradually with sulfur accumulation. Sulfur removal, and catalyst regeneration, is accomplished by solvent extraction. Sulfur is recovered from solvent by evaporation/crystallization. Bench scale experimental work on this process was performed to determine its performance and limits of applicability to power generation systems employing geothermal steam. The bench scale system employed a one-inch diameter reactor, a steam supply with controlled temperature and pressure, an injection system for adding {Hsub2}S and other gases at controlled rates, and instrumentation for control and measurement of temperatures, pressures, flow rates and presssure drop. H{sub2}S and other analyses were performed by wet chemistry techniques.

• Research Organization: Battelle Pacific Northwest Labs., Richland, WA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-06-1830
• OSTI ID: 6161336
• Report Number(s): PNL-2895
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ACTIVATED CARBON
ADSORBENTS
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CARBON
CATALYSIS
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
EXTRACTION
FLUIDS
GEOTHERMAL FLUIDS
Geothermal Legacy
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
NATURAL STEAM
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
PURIFICATION
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
STEAM
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS