Process for removal of hydrogen sulfide from gas streams
A process for the removal of H/sub 2/S from a feed gas, and the production of sulfur therefrom, is effected by oxidation with oxygen and/or SO/sub 2/ at temperatures between 250* and 450* F. The oxidation is conducted in the presence of an extremely stable oxidation catalyst comprising an oxide and/or sulfide of vanadium supported on a non-alkaline porous refractory oxide. Sulfur deposition and consequent catalyst deactivation are prevented by maintaining the partial pressure of free sulfur in the oxidation reactor below that necessary for condensation. H/sub 2/, CO, and light hydrocarbons present in the feed gas are not oxidized. Typical uses of the process include the removal of H/sub 2/S and the production of sulfur from sour natural gases or gases obtained from the gasification of coal. Feed gases which contain SO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/S in mole ratios greater than 5, or which contain other gaseous sulfur compounds such as CO, CS/sub 2/, SO/sub 3/ and mercaptans, can be desulfurized by hydrogenating all of such sulfur components to H/sub 2/S and subsequently removing the H/sub 2/S from the hydrogenated feed gas by the oxidation process of the invention. This hydrogenation-oxidation combination is especially contemplated for the desulfurization of claus tail gases and stack gas effluents.
- Assignee:
- Union Oil Co Of California
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4243647
- OSTI ID:
- 6413833
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
010402 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Purification & Upgrading
03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLAUS PROCESS
COAL GAS
COAL GASIFICATION
DESULFURIZATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
NATURAL GAS
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
PRODUCTION
REMOVAL
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES