PROCESS FOR ELIMINATION OF LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE IN GAS MIXTURES BY CATALYTIC OXIDATION

摘要

A process is described for the elimination of hydrogen sulfide from gas mixtures by catalytic oxidation over activated carbon catalyst which converts the hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur and water, the former being sorbed by the activated carbon while the latter is transported with the gas mixture and may be removed by known dehydration processes. The above oxidation process is conducted at elevated temperatures and pressures and with sufficient residence time to assure virtually complete conversion of the hydrogen sulfide with minimal production of by- product sulfur dioxide. Traces of heavy hydrocarbons in the feed gas mixture which may reduce the life of the catalyst and the quality of the sulfur product may be removed by cryogenic means or by sorption on an activated carbon guard bed. Both the activated carbon catalyst used to oxidize the hydrogen sulfide and the activated carbon used to remove heavy hydrocarbons from the feed gas may be regenerated by passing inert gas or product gas through the beds of these materials at elevated temperatures for sufficient time to remove the sorbed sulfur or the heavy hydrocarbons, respectively for use as by-products of the process.