PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A GAS STREAM DEPLETED OF HYDROGEN SULPHIDE

摘要

The invention provides a process for producing a gas stream depleted of H<SUB>2</SUB>S from a feed gas stream comprising H<SUB>2</SUB>S, the process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively oxidizing H<SUB>2</SUB>S by supplying the feed gas stream comprising H<SUB>2</SUB>S, an inert liquid medium and a molecular-oxygen comprising gas stream to a reaction zone comprising at least one catalytic zone comprising an oxidation catalyst and contacting the oxidation catalyst of each catalytic zone with the feed gas stream and/or the molecular-oxygen comprising gas stream in the presence of inert liquid medium at a temperature in the range of from 120 to 160 °C to form elemental sulphur and the gas stream depleted of H<SUB>2</SUB>S, under such conditions that the elemental sulphur formed is essentially in liquid form and is removed from the reaction zone with inert liquid medium to obtain a liquid stream comprising inert liquid medium and essentially liquid elemental sulphur; (b) optionally separating the liquid stream obtained in step (a) into a first liquid phase enriched in inert liquid medium and a second liquid phase enriched in liquid elemental sulphur; (c) combusting at least part of the liquid stream obtained in step (a) or at least part of the second liquid phase obtained in step (b) to form a fluid stream comprising sulphur dioxide.