Process for the removal of sulphur compounds and carbon dioxide from a gas stream

摘要

A process for the removal of sulphur compounds and carbon dioxide from a gas stream comprising sulphur compounds including hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans, the process comprising the steps of: (a) washing the gas stream with an aqueous amine washing solution to remove hydrogen sulphide, any carbon dioxide, and part of the mercaptans to obtain a first purified gas stream; (b) passing the first purified gas stream through one or more molecular sieves to further remove mercaptans to obtain a second purified gas stream; (c) contacting the second purified gas stream and a hydrogen stream with a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a third purified gas stream; and (d) passing the third purified gas stream through one or more hydrogen sulphide guard beds to obtain purified gas. The invention further provides a method for the start-up of such process.