Process and apparatus for generating elemental sulfur and re-usable metal oxide from spent metal sulfide sorbents

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869802

Ayala, Raul E ^[1]; Gal, Eli ^[2]

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1. Clifton Park, NY
2. Lititz, PA

A process and apparatus for generating elemental sulfur and re-usable metal oxide from spent metal-sulfur compound. Spent metal-sulfur compound is regenerated to re-usable metal oxide by moving a bed of spent metal-sulfur compound progressively through a single regeneration vessel having a first and second regeneration stage and a third cooling and purging stage. The regeneration is carried out and elemental sulfur is generated in the first stage by introducing a first gas of sulfur dioxide which contains oxygen at a concentration less than the stoichiometric amount required for complete oxidation of the spent metal-sulfur compound. A second gas containing sulfur dioxide and excess oxygen at a concentration sufficient for complete oxidation of the partially spent metal-sulfur compound, is introduced into the second regeneration stage. Gaseous sulfur formed in the first regeneration stage is removed prior to introducing the second gas into the second regeneration stage. An oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the third cooling and purging stage. Except for the gaseous sulfur removed from the first stage, the combined gases derived from the regeneration stages which are generally rich in sulfur dioxide and lean in oxygen, are removed from the regenerator as an off-gas and recycled as the first and second gas into the regenerator. Oxygen concentration is controlled by adding air, oxygen-enriched air or pure oxygen to the recycled off-gas.

• Research Organization: General Electric Co., Boston, MA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC21-88MC25003
• Assignee: G.E. Environmental Services, Inc. (Lebanon, PA)
• Patent Number(s): US 5401475
• OSTI ID: 869802
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
apparatus
generating
elemental
sulfur
re-usable
metal
oxide
spent
sulfide
sorbents
metal-sulfur
compound
regenerated
moving
bed
progressively
single
regeneration
vessel
stage
third
cooling
purging
carried
generated
introducing
gas
dioxide
contains
oxygen
concentration
stoichiometric
amount
required
complete
oxidation
containing
excess
sufficient
partially
introduced
gaseous
formed
removed
prior
oxygen-containing
combined
gases
derived
stages
rich
lean
regenerator
off-gas
recycled
controlled
adding
air
oxygen-enriched
pure
complete oxidation
spent metal-sulfur
pure oxygen
oxygen concentration
partially spent
metal sulfide
gas containing
elemental sulfur
oxygen-containing gas
metal oxide
sulfur dioxide
enriched air
containing gas
stoichiometric amount
re-usable metal
spent metal
amount required
containing sulfur
excess oxygen
combined gas
oxygen-enriched air
contains oxygen
gases derived
generating elemental
sulfur compound
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