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A continuous process for recovery of sulfur from natural gas containing low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide
Author(s) -
Ghosh Tushar K.,
Tollefson Eric L.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450640612
Subject(s) - hydrogen sulfide , sour gas , sulfur , chemistry , hydrogen sulfide sensor , hydrogen , claus process , acid gas , natural gas , sulfide , catalysis , carbon monoxide , inorganic chemistry , carbonyl sulfide , carbon fibers , waste management , materials science , organic chemistry , composite number , composite material , engineering
A continuous catalytic process was developed to remove hydrogen sulfide from a natural gas stream using activated carbon as catalyst. The concentration range of hydrogen sulfide in the gas stream studied was 300–3000 ppmv (0.0126–0.126 moles/m 3 ). Virtually 100 percent conversion of hydrogen sulfide was achieved by the combination of various parameters. The “field gas” employed in this study exhibited cracking of some heavier hydrocarbons and made the product sulfur slightly brown. These hydrocarbons should therefore be separated from the gas stream prior to the oxidation reaction. No carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide was produced during the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. It is concluded that the process described herein has the potential for the removal of hydrogen sulfide as sulfur from a sour natural gas stream on a continuous basis and could therefore eliminate an environmental problem which now exists.