H{sub 2}S-removal and sulfur-recovery processes using metal salts
Scrubbing a sour gas stream with a solution of copper sulfate allows the clean-up temperature to be increased from ambient to the adiabatic saturation temperature of the gas. The copper ion in solution reacts with the H{sub 2}S to produce insoluble CuS. The choice of copper sulfate was set by the very low solubility of CuS and the very rapid kinetics of the Cus formation. Since the copper sulfate solutions used are acidic, CO{sub 2} will not be co-absorbed. In a subsequent step the solid CuS is oxidized by a solution of ferric sulfate. The copper sulfate is regenerated, and elemental sulfur is formed together with ferrous sulfate. The ferrous sulfate is reoxidized to ferric sulfate using air. Since the copper sulfate and ferric solutions are regenerated, the overall reaction in this process is the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide with oxygen to form sulfur. The use of copper sulfate has the further advantage that the presence of sulfuric acid, even as concentrated as 1 molar, does not inhibit the sorption of H{sub 2}S. Furthermore, the absorption reaction remains quite favorable thermodynamically over the temperature range of interest. Because the reaction goes to completion, only a single theoretical stage is required for complete H{sub 2}S removal and cocurrent gas/liquid contacting may be employed. The formation of solids precludes the use of a packed column for the contacting device. However, a venturi scrubber would be expected to perform satisfactorily. The kinetics of the oxidation of metal sulfides, in particular zinc and copper sulfide, is reported in the literature to be slow at near-ambient temperatures. The proposed process conditions for the oxidation step are different from those reported in the literature, most notably the higher temperature. The kinetics of the reaction must be studied at high temperatures and corresponding pressures. An important goal is to obtain sulfur of high purity, which is a salable product.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 10106840
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/MC-93/C0118; DOE/NBM-93000208; CONF-920951-27; ON: DE93000208
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 12. annual gasification and gas stream cleanup systems contractors review meeting,Morgantown, WV (United States),15-17 Sep 1992; Other Information: PBD: [1992]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COAL GASIFICATION
FUEL GAS
DESULFURIZATION
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
REMOVAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
SULFUR
MATERIALS RECOVERY
COPPER SULFIDES
OXIDATION
COPPER SULFATES
IRON SULFATES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
010402
010404
PURIFICATION AND UPGRADING
GASIFICATION