PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR THE REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE FROM GASEOUS STREAMS

摘要

A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream in a contact zone by contacting the gaseous stream with an aqueous alkaline scrubbing solution containing a polyvalent metal chelate at a pH of 7 to 10, wherein the polyvalent metal chelate is: in one embodiment, all or substantially all in the reduced or lower valence state in a contact zone and is oxidized to the oxidized or higher valence state in an oxidation zone, so as to convert hydrosulfide and/or sulfide and salts present in the contact zone to sulfur; and in a second embodiment, the aqueous alkaline solution contacting the gaseous stream is a mixture containing higher and lower valence polyvalent metal chelates.