PROCESS FOR THE OXIDATION OF HYDROGEN SULPHIDE

摘要

The present invention provides a process for the oxidation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) in an H2S-containing hydrocarbon feed gas to elemental sulphur. In the process a H2S-containing hydrocarbon feed gas (10) and a sulphur dioxide containing gas (20) are contacted in a catalytic zone (3) at a temperature of 120 to 200°C, and a pressure of 4 to 200 bara, thereby forming elemental sulphur which is essentially in liquid form. A stream (30) containing the elemental sulphur and a first H2S-depleted gaseous stream (50) are removed from the catalytic zone (3). The first H2S-depleted gaseous stream (50) is separated, thereby obtaining a concentrated H2S-containing gaseous stream (60) and a second H2S-depleted gaseous stream (70). The concentrated H2S-containing gaseous stream (60) is incinerated, thereby obtaining a SO2-containing stream (80). At least a part of the SO2-containing stream (80) is used as the SO2-containing gas (20) supplied in step (b).