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Title: Catalysts for the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur

Patent ·
OSTI ID:873136

This invention provides catalysts for the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. In particular, the invention provides catalysts for the partial oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur and water. The catalytically active component of the catalyst comprises a mixture of metal oxides containing titanium oxide and one or more metal oxides which can be selected from the group of metal oxides or mixtures of metal oxides of transition metals or lanthanide metals. Preferred metal oxides for combination with TiO.sub.2 in the catalysts of this invention include oxides of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Hf, Ta, W, Au, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. Catalysts which comprise a homogeneous mixture of titanium oxide and niobium (Nb) oxide are also provided. A preferred method for preparing the precursor homogenous mixture of metal hydroxides is by coprecipitation of titanium hydroxide with one or more other selected metal hydroxides. Catalysts of this invention have improved activity and/or selectivity for elemental sulfur production. Further improvements of activity and/or selectivity can be obtained by introducing relatively low amounts (up to about 5 mol %)of a promoter metal oxide (preferably of metals other than titanium and that of the selected second metal oxide) into the homogeneous metal/titanium oxide catalysts of this invention.

Research Organization:
TDA Research, Inc. (Wheat Ridge, CO)
DOE Contract Number:
FG03-95ER82088
Assignee:
TDA Research, Inc. (Wheat Ridge, CO)
Patent Number(s):
US 6099819
Application Number:
09/2343367
OSTI ID:
873136
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Catalyst modification and process design considerations for the oxidation of low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide in natural gas journal June 1990
Alkane oxidation using iron oxo centres journal May 1992
The effects of pressure and temperature on the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in natural gas and regeneration of the catalyst to recover the sulfur produced journal February 1993
A continuous process for recovery of sulfur from natural gas containing low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide journal December 1986