Separation of Light Hydrocarbons and Sour Species From a Sour Gas

摘要

The invention provides a process for recovering a light hydrocarbon, such as ethane, from a sour hydrocarbon gas. The process involves mixing the sour hydrocarbon gas with an azeotrope inhibitor and then passing the mixture into a first distillation column. The first distillation column is operated under a set of temperature and pressure conditions in which the light hydrocarbon is substantially separated from the mixture as an overhead vapour product. The sour species in the mixture can be recovered by passing the bottoms liquid product into a second distillation column under a second set of temperature and pressure conditions in which the sour species is separated as a second overhead vapour product.