Patent ID: 6416729
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B01D,C01B

Abstract:
In a process for removing H2S from a gaseous stream, by the steps of:(a) flowing the gaseous stream through an absorber vessel whereat said stream is contacted with a sorbing liquor comprising a nonaqueous solvent containing dissolved sulfur, a base consisting essentially of a tertiary amine having sufficient strength and concentration to drive the reaction between H2S sorbed by said liquor and said dissolved sulfur, to form a nonvolatile polysulfide which is soluble in the sorbing liquor, and a solubilizing agent for maintaining the solubility of polysulfide intermediates which may otherwise separate during the process; (b) converting the dissolved nonvolatile polysulfide in said sorbing liquor to sulfur which remains dissolved in said liquor by contacting the liquor with an oxidizing agent; (c) converting at least part of said dissolved sulfur in the liquor to solid particulate sulfur at a point downstream of the absorber vessel; and (d) separating said solid sulfur from step (c) from the liquor; the improvement comprising: providing SO2 as the oxidizing gas at the absorber vessel in step (b).