Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for the desulfurization of hot product gases from a coal gasifier

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6742286

The gasification of sulfur-bearing coal produces a synthesis gas which contains a considerable concentration of sulfur compounds, especially hydrogen sulfide that renders the synthesis gas environmentally unacceptable unless the concentration of the sulfur compounds is significantly reduced. To provide for such a reduction in the sulfur compounds a calcium compound is added to the gasifier with the coal to provide some sulfur absorption. The synthesis gas from the gasifier contains sulfur compounds and is passed through an external bed of a regenerable solid absorbent, preferably zinc ferrite, for essentially completed desulfurizing the hot synthesis gas. This absorbent is, in turn, periodically or continuously regenerated by passing a mixture of steam and air or oxygen through the bed for converting absorbed hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide. The resulting tail gas containing sulfur dioxide and steam is injected into the gasifier where the sulfur dioxide is converted by the calcium compound into a stable form of sulfur such as calcium sulfate. 2 figs.

Research Organization:
USDOE Morgantown Energy Technology Center, WV
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy
Patent Number(s):
4,769,045
Application Number:
07/144,683
OSTI ID:
6742286
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English