Patent ID: 6221241
Filing Date: 2001-04-24
Classification: C10G,C10L

Abstract:
A process for the purification of a fluid stream containing at least one sulphur contaminant selected from hydrogen sulphide, carbonyl sulphide, mercaptans and hydrocarbon sulphides and at least one second contaminant selected from mercury, phosphine, stibine, and arsenic compounds comprising passing said fluid stream through a bed of a particulate absorbent containing a sulphide of a variable valency metal that is more electropositive than mercury whereby said second contaminant is removed from said fluid stream but little or none of said sulphur contaminant is absorbed and then passing at least part of the effluent from said bed containing the variable valency metal sulphide through a bed of a particulate sulphur absorbent comprising at least one compound selected from oxides, hydroxides, carbonates and basic carbonates of said variable valency metal, whereby said sulphur contaminant is absorbed from that part of the effluent passing through said sulphur absorbent and converting said sulphur absorbent to a sulphide of said variable valency metal, wherein said bed of the variable valency metal sulphide has been produced by absorbing sulphur contaminants from a previous portion of said fluid stream from which said second contaminant has been removed.