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Microbially-enhanced redox solution reoxidation for sweetening sour natural gas

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/82537· OSTI ID:82537

About twenty five percent of natural gas produced in the United States is sour containing significant volumes of hydrogen sulfide and other contaminants. Liquid redox processes remove hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. Aqueous solution of chelated ferric ions oxidize the hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The reduced iron chelate is then oxidized by contact with air and recycled. This requires expensive equipment for regeneration, costly chemicals and the process is usually energy intensive. Recent studies show that the ferric ion regeneration rates are substantially enhanced in presence of acidophilic bacteria. The specific objectives of this project are to advance the technology and improve the economics of the commercial iron-based chelate processes utilizing biologically-enhanced reoxidation of the redox solutions used in these processes, such as LO-CAT II and SulFerox.

Research Organization:
Texas A and M Univ., Kingsville, TX (United States). Dept. of Chemical and Natural Gas Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States); Gas Research Inst., Chicago, IL (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG21-94MC31162
OSTI ID:
82537
Report Number(s):
DOE/MC/31162--95/C0465; CONF-950494--11; ON: DE95012311; CNN: 5094-220-3037; Gas Rsearch Institute
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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