Patent Publication Number: US-2011067306-A1

Title: Processes and Apparatuses for Reducing Pollutants and Producing Syngas

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     This invention relates to processes and apparatuses for reducing pollutants and/or producing syngas. 
     2. Discussion of Related Art 
     Issues of greenhouse gas levels and climate change have led to development of technologies seeking to reduce and/or eliminate carbon emissions to the atmosphere. As these technologies advance, various techniques to convert feedstocks into electricity have been developed. However, even with the above advances in technology, there remains a need and a desire to reduce pollutants and/or produce syngas. 
     SUMMARY 
     This invention relates to processes and apparatuses for reducing pollutants and/or producing syngas. Recycling at least a portion of a pollutant containing stream can allow for destruction of the pollutant, such as by a water gas shift reaction. The processes and apparatuses of this invention can among other things reduce pollutant emissions, increase sulfur recovery, increase carbon capture percentages, while in the process of producing syngas. Recycling pollutants, such as carbonyl sulfide to a shift converter may require less energy for destruction and offer process simplification versus returning the pollutants to a gasifier and/or reformer inlet. Similarly, recycling pollutants to the shift converter can destroy the pollutant, rather than merely circulating in an acid gas removal unit as occurs with a recycle to the acid gas removal unit. 
     According to a first embodiment, this invention includes a process for reducing pollutants. The process includes the step of reacting a first stream with at least one sulfur compound to form a second stream with carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and a reduced amount of the at least one sulfur compound, and the step of recovering elemental sulfur from a portion of the second stream to form a third steam with the at least one sulfur compound, carbon dioxide, and a reduced amount of hydrogen sulfide. The process includes the step of directing at least a portion of the third stream to form at least a portion of the first stream. 
     According to a second embodiment, this invention includes a process of producing clean syngas. The process includes the step of reacting a feedstock stream in a reactor unit to form a reactor unit effluent stream, and the step of converting the reactor unit effluent stream in a shift conversion unit to form a shift conversion unit effluent stream. The process includes the step of separating the shift conversion unit effluent stream in an acid gas removal unit to form a hydrogen stream, a hydrogen sulfide acid gas stream, and a carbon dioxide stream, and the step of recovering elemental sulfur from the hydrogen sulfide acid gas stream in a sulfur recovery unit to form a sulfur stream and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. The process includes the step of connecting the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream to the shift conversion unit. 
     According to a third embodiment, this invention includes an apparatus for reducing pollutants. The apparatus includes a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and a shift conversion unit connected to the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. The apparatus includes a shift conversion unit effluent stream connected to the shift conversion unit, and an acid gas removal unit connected to the shift conversion unit effluent stream. The apparatus includes a hydrogen stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, and optionally a carbon dioxide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit. The apparatus includes a hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, and a sulfur recovery unit connected to the hydrogen sulfide stream and the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. The apparatus includes a sulfur stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit. 
     According to a fourth embodiment, this invention includes an apparatus for producing syngas. The apparatus includes a feedstock stream and a reactor unit connected to the feedstock stream. The apparatus includes a reactor unit effluent stream connected to the reactor unit, and a shift conversion unit connected to the reactor unit effluent stream. The shift conversion unit includes of one or more shift conversion devices. The apparatus includes a shift conversion unit effluent stream connected to the shift conversion unit, and an acid gas removal unit connected to the shift conversion unit effluent stream. The apparatus includes a hydrogen stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, and a hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit. The apparatus includes a carbon dioxide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, and a sulfur recovery unit connected to the hydrogen sulfide stream. The apparatus includes a sulfur stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit, and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit and the shift conversion unit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the features, advantages, and principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  schematically shows a shift conversion unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  schematically shows an apparatus for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  schematically shows a reactor unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  schematically shows an apparatus for producing syngas, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  schematically shows a hydrogenation unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  schematically shows a shift conversion unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  schematically shows a tail gas treatment unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  schematically shows a reactor unit, according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 16  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit, according to one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 17  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit, according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This invention relates to processes and apparatuses for reducing pollutants and/or producing syngas. According to one embodiment, this invention may include destruction of carbonyl sulfide by recycle of a sulfur recovery unit effluent or tail gas treatment unit tail gas to a shift reactor. Remaining carbonyl sulfide in a sulfur recovery unit effluent and/or tail gas treatment unit effluent can be removed by recycling a gas stream to a shift conversion unit in the process block of an integrated gasification combined cycle with carbon capture power plant. A carbonyl sulfide stream can convert to hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide by a water gas shift reaction in a shift conversion bed. Tail gas from the sulfur recovery unit may be hydrogenated, quenched, and then recycled back to the shift reactor. In the alternative, tail gas from a tail gas treatment unit amine absorber overheard can be recycled back to the shift reactor. The second configuration may increase sulfur yields, such as for additional product sales and/or environmental compliance. The recycle stream can be routed to one or more shift converters of decreasing temperature. 
     This invention may also include a low pressure hydrogen sulfide absorber at an exit of a quench column off a sulfur recovery hydrogenation unit for hydrogen sulfide absorption from product gases. Any suitable solvent may be used, such as amines, modified amines, hindered amines, promoted amines, and/or the like. 
       FIG. 1  schematically shows an apparatus  110  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The apparatus  110  includes a first stream  112  connected to a shift conversion unit  114  with a second stream  116 . The shift conversion unit effluent stream or second stream  116  connects to a sulfur removal and/or recovery unit  118  with a third stream  120 . The third stream  120  connects and/or recycles back to form at least a portion of the first stream  112 . 
       FIG. 2  schematically shows an apparatus  210  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The description of the apparatus  210  proceeds in accordance with the description of the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  with changes made to the leading digit of the corresponding reference numerals. The apparatus  210  in  FIG. 2  also differs from the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  in that the apparatus  210  includes optionally a residual free oxygen removal unit  222 , optionally a drying unit  224 , and a compression unit  226 , each on the third stream  220 . 
       FIG. 3  schematically shows an apparatus  310  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The description of the apparatus  310  proceeds in accordance with the description of the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  with changes made to the leading digit of the corresponding reference numerals. The apparatus  310  in  FIG. 3  also differs from the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  in that the apparatus  310  includes optionally a drying unit  324 , a compression unit  326 , and a hydrogenation unit  328 , each on the third stream  320 . 
       FIG. 4  schematically shows an apparatus  410  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The description of the apparatus  410  proceeds in accordance with the description of the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  with changes made to the leading digit of the corresponding reference numerals. The apparatus  410  in  FIG. 4  also differs from the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  in that the apparatus  410  includes optionally a drying unit  424 , a compression unit  426 , a hydrogenation unit  428 , a washing unit  430 , and cooling unit  432 , each on the on the third stream  420 . The cooling unit can be before or after the washing unit. 
       FIG. 5  schematically shows an apparatus  510  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The description of the apparatus  510  proceeds in accordance with the description of the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  with changes made to the leading digit of the corresponding reference numerals. The apparatus  510  in  FIG. 5  also differs from the apparatus  110  in  FIG. 1  in that the apparatus  510  includes optionally a drying unit  524 , a compression unit  526 , a hydrogenation unit  528 , a washing unit  530 , cooling unit  532 , and a tail gas treatment unit  534 , each on the third stream  520 . 
     Regarding the figures, the order of the units as depicted and/or described may operate in sequence. In the alternative, different orders and arrangements of the equipment combinations beyond those depicted and/or described are within the scope of this invention. 
       FIG. 6  schematically shows a shift conversion unit  614 , according to one embodiment. A first stream  612  connects to the shift conversion unit  614  with one or more shift converters of decreasing temperature, such as a high temperature shift converter  636  and a low temperature shift converter  638  with a heat exchanger  664  between the converters, such as for heat removal and/or cooling. Desirably, cooling favors equilibrium conversion of the water gas shift reaction. The shift conversion unit  614  may include a first low temperature shift converter  640  and a second low temperature shift converter  642 , such as in a suitable series and/or parallel configuration. Other configurations of one or more shift converters are within the scope of this invention. The first stream  612  converts into a second stream  616  by the first and second stage shift converters. At least a portion of the third stream  620  connects to one or more of the shift converters, such as a first shift converter. The second stream  616  optionally connects to a third stage (additional) shift converter (not shown) for further carbonyl sulfide (COS) conversion to form a subsequent stream (not shown). 
       FIG. 7  schematically shows an apparatus  710  for reducing pollutants, according to one embodiment. The apparatus  710  has a first stream  712  connected to a shift Conversion unit  714  with a second stream  716 . The second stream  716  connects to a sulfur recovery unit  718  with a third stream  720 . A sulfur recovery unit and/or a tail gas treatment unit  746  separates a hydrogen sulfide stream  748  from the third stream  720 . The hydrogen sulfide stream  748  returns and/or connects with the second stream, such as for recovery in the sulfur recovery unit  718 . A drying unit  724  and a compression unit  726  process the third stream  720 . The third stream  720  connects with one or more shift catalysts  750 , such as within the shift conversion unit  714 . 
       FIG. 8  schematically shows a reactor unit  852 , according to one embodiment. The reactor unit  852  connects to a feedstock stream  854 , such as a hydrocarbon material and/or a carbonaceous material. The reactor unit  852  includes at least one of a gasification unit  856 , a reforming unit  858 , partial oxidation unit  860 , pyrolysis unit  862 , and/or the like. The reactor unit  852  forms at least a portion of a first stream  812 . 
       FIG. 9  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit  964 , according to one embodiment. The acid gas removal unit  964  connects to-a second stream  916  to form a hydrogen stream  966 . The hydrogen stream  966  connects to at least one of a steam generation unit  968  with a steam stream  970 , an electricity generation unit  972  with an electricity stream  974 , an ammonia generation unit  976  with an ammonia stream  978 , a methanol generation unit  980  with a methanol stream  982 , a synthetic hydrocarbon generation unit  984  with a synthetic hydrocarbon stream  986 , and/or the like. 
       FIG. 10  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit  1064 , according to one embodiment. The acid gas removal unit  1064  receives a second stream  1016  to form a carbon dioxide stream  1088 . The carbon dioxide stream  1088  connects to at least one of a carbon sequestration unit  1090  with a carbon sequestration stream  1092 , an enhanced oil recovery unit  1094 , with an enhanced oil recovery stream  1096 , an industrial gas supply unit  1098  with an industrial gas supply stream  1100 , a chemical synthesis and production unit  1099  with a chemical stream  1101 , and/or the like. 
       FIG. 11  schematically shows an apparatus  1110  for producing syngas, according to one embodiment. The apparatus  1110  includes a feedstock stream  1112  connected to a reactor unit  1114  with reactor unit effluent stream  1116 . The reactor unit effluent stream  1116  connects to a shift conversion unit  1118  with a shift conversion effluent stream  1120 . The shift conversion effluent stream  1120  connects to an acid gas removal unit  1122  with a hydrogen stream  1124 , a, hydrogen sulfide acid gas stream  1126 , and a carbon dioxide stream  1128 . The hydrogen sulfide stream  1126  connects to a sulfur recovery unit  1130  with a sulfur stream  1132  and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream  1134 . The sulfur recovery unit tail gas stream  1134  connects to the shift conversion unit  1118 , such as for destruction of carbonyl sulfide formed in the sulfur recovery unit. Destruction of carbonyl sulfide can reduce pollutant emissions, increase a carbon capture percentages from a power plant, increase an amount of sulfur product, and/or the like. 
       FIG. 12  schematically shows a hydrogenation unit  1236 , according to one embodiment. The hydrogenation unit  1236  receives a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream  1234  and then supplies it to a washing unit  1238 , a cooling unit  1240 , and optionally a compression unit (not shown) before connecting to a shift conversion unit  1218 . 
       FIG. 13  schematically shows a shift conversion unit  1318 , according to one embodiment. A reactor unit effluent stream  1316  connects to a high temperature shift converter  1342  followed by a medium temperature shift converter  1344  with one or more heat exchangers  1346  disposed between. The medium temperature shift converter  1344  is optionally followed by a third low temperature shift converter (not shown) with one or more heat exchangers (not shown) disposed between. The shift conversion unit  1318  forms a shift conversion effluent stream  1320  and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream  1334  connects to one or more of the shift converters, such as for destruction of one or more pollutants. 
       FIG. 14  schematically shows a tail gas treatment unit  1446 , according to one embodiment. A sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream  1434  connects to the tail gas treatment unit  1446  to form a second hydrogen sulfide stream  1448  and a tail gas treatment unit effluent stream  1450 . The second hydrogen sulfide stream connects to a sulfur recovery unit  1430 . The tail gas treatment unit effluent connects to a drying unit  1452  and a compression unit  1454  before connecting to a shift conversion unit  1418 . 
       FIG. 15  schematically shows a reactor unit  1514 , according to one embodiment. A feedstock stream  1512  connects to the reactor unit  1514  and forms a reactor unit effluent stream  1516 . The reactor unit  1514  may include at least one of a reforming unit  1556 , a gasification unit  1558 , a partial oxidation unit  1560 , a pyrolysis unit  1562 , and/or the like. 
       FIG. 16  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit  1622 , according to one embodiment. A shift conversion effluent stream  1620  connects to the acid gas removal unit  1622  to form a hydrogen stream  1624 . The hydrogen stream  1624  may be used in at least one of a steam generation unit  1664  with a steam stream  1666 , an electricity generation unit  1668  with an electricity stream  1670 , an ammonia generation unit  1672  with an ammonia stream  1674 , a methanol generation unit  1676 , with a methanol stream  1678 , a synthetic hydrocarbon generation unit  1680  with a synthetic hydrocarbon stream  1682 , and/or the like. 
       FIG. 17  schematically shows an acid gas removal unit  1722  according to one embodiment. A shift conversion effluent stream  1720  connects to the acid gas removal unit  1722  and forms a carbon dioxide stream  1728 . The carbon dioxide stream  1728  connects to at least one of a carbon sequestration unit  1790  with a carbon sequestration stream  1792 , an enhanced oil recovery unit  1794  with an enhanced oil recovery stream  1796 , an industrial gas supply unit  1798  with a industrial gas supply stream  1800 , a chemical synthesis and production unit  1802  with a chemical stream  1804 , and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention may include a process for reducing pollutants. The process may include the step of reacting a first stream with at least one sulfur compound to form a second stream with carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and a reduced amount of the at least one sulfur compound. The process may include the step of recovering elemental sulfur from a portion of the second stream to form a third steam with the at least one sulfur compound, carbon dioxide, and a reduced amount of hydrogen sulfide. The process may include the step of directing at least a portion of the third stream to form a portion of the first stream. 
     Process broadly refers to a proceeding, a series of events and/or steps, progress and/or the like, such as to accomplish a task, a goal, and/or an outcome. Processes may be batch, semi-batch, discrete, continuous, semi-continuous, and/or the like. 
     Reducing broadly refers to removing, lowering, and/or eliminating a substance and/or a material, such as a pollutant, a defilement, a contaminant, an imperfection, an undesirable element, and/or the like. Reducing may include any suitable amount and/or quantity lowered and/or removed, such as by at least about 10 percent, at least about 25 percent, at least about 50 percent, at least about 75 percent, at least about 90 percent, at least about 95 percent, at least about 99 percent, and/or the like of the contaminant from an incoming stream on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. 
     Stream broadly refers to a flow, a succession, a supply, and/or the like of a material, a substance, and/or the like. 
     Pollutant broadly refers to unwholesome and/or undesirable elements and/or materials, such as to corrupt, soil, infect, contaminate, defile, make impure, make inferior, make tainted, and/or the like. The pollutant may be in any suitable amount, such as between about zero percent and about 50 percent, between about 0.001 percent and about 20 percent, between about 0.01 percent and about 5 percent, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the pollutant includes substances whose discharge into the environment can be regulated by state and/or federal agencies, such as hazardous pollutants controlled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 
     Form broadly refers to make up, constitute, develop, give shape, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment the pollutant may include one or more sulfur compounds, such as carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, marcaptans, thiols, thiolates, thiophenes, sulfoxides, sulfones, other organic sulfur compounds, and/or the like. Sulfur compound broadly refers to any substance and/or material containing one or more atoms of sulfur in a compound and/or mixture. 
     Reacting broadly refers to any suitable transformation with at least a portion of a chemical step, such as synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and/or the like. Reactions may be exothermic, endothermic, and/or the like. Reactions may or may not utilize a catalyst, such as to increase a reaction rate. Catalysts may be homogenous, heterogeneous, supported, unsupported, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the step of reacting can include a water gas shift reaction, such as to convert carbon monoxide by consuming water molecules and producing hydrogen molecules. Desirably, at least a portion of the pollutant and/or the at least one sulfur compound may react under shift conversion conditions to form other compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, and/or the like. 
     Converting broadly refers to changing from one thing and/or property into another, such as carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. 
     At least one broadly refers to one or more of an item, an object, a thing, a step, and/or the like. 
     Compound broadly refers to a material and/or a substance formed by a union of elements and/or parts, such as by a chemical union of two or more ingredients in suitable proportions. Compounds may include ionic bonds, covalent bonds, van der Waals forces, other molecular forces, and/or the like. 
     Hydrogen sulfide broadly refers to a compound including one sulfur atom and two hydrogen atoms. 
     Carbon dioxide broadly refers to a compound including one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms. 
     Carbon monoxide broadly refers to a compound including one carbon atom and one oxygen atom. 
     Gas broadly refers to not being primarily in a solid state and/or a liquid state, such as having a generally indefinite volume (compressible) and/or a generally indefinite shape (fills its container). Gases may be primarily vapors but also may include solid or particulate matter and/or fine liquid droplets, such as to form a suspension and/or an aerosol. 
     The step of recovering elemental sulfur may include any suitable process and/or chemical reaction, such as such as converting hydrogen sulfide into molten elemental sulfur. Elemental broadly refers to relating to being primarily an element. Elemental states may include any suitable form, such as amorphous forms, crystalline forms, solid forms, liquid forms, and/or the like. Recovering sulfur in other forms and/or compounds is within the scope of this invention. 
     The sulfur process may include reactions used in a Claus unit, such as oxidation, decomposition, forming pollutants, and/or the like. The sulfur recovery process may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as with one or more burners, one or more condensers, one or more catalyst beds, and/or the like. The step of recovering elemental sulfur may convert any suitable portion of hydrogen sulfide in a feed stream to elemental sulfur, such as at least about 50 percent, at least about 75 percent, at least about 85 percent, at least about 90 percent, at least about 95 percent, at least about 99 percent, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. 
     Unit broadly refers to a collection, a group, and/or an assembly of devices and/or equipment, such as to accomplish and/or perform a task and/or an outcome. Units may include any suitable process equipment, such as vessels, columns, pumps, valves, compressors, control systems, and/or the like. 
     Without being bound by theory, the step of recovering elemental sulfur may also form an amount of the pollutant and/or the at least one sulfur compound, such as carbonyl sulfide. 
     Directing broadly refers to point, extend, project, point out the way, and/or the like. The step of directing at least a portion of the third stream to form a portion of the first stream can have an effect of recycling and/or returning the third stream to an earlier point in the process, such as before the reacting step which can reduce and/or remove the one or more sulfur compounds made and/or formed in the recovering elemental sulfur step. The third stream may form any suitable amount and/or quantity of the first stream, such as between about 1 percent and about 100 percent, between about 5 percent and about 30 percent, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. 
     By recycling to an earlier point in the process, at least a portion of the one or more sulfur compounds can be converted to hydrogen sulfide which can be removed from the process in the recovering sulfur step instead of venting and/or releasing to the atmosphere and/or the environment. 
     At least a portion may refer to any suitable amount and/or valie, such as between about 0.01 percent and about 100 percent, at least about 10 percent, at least about 25 percent, at least about 50 percent, at least about 75 percent, at least about 90 percent, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of optionally removing free oxygen from at least a portion of the third stream, optionally the step of drying at least a portion of the third stream, and the step of compressing at least portion of the third stream. 
     Optionally broadly refers to being not compulsory and/or needed, such as with an act of choosing. Optionally may include periodic and/or cyclic operations in addition to continuous operations. 
     Removing free oxygen may include any suitable step and/or action to reduce at least a portion of free and/or excess oxygen contained within the third stream. Removing oxygen can be done with any suitable physical and/or chemical mechanism, such as reactions, sorption, and/or the like. Removing oxygen may use any suitable equipment and/or device, such as membranes, molecular sieves, oxygen scavengers, catalysts, and/or the like. Removing free oxygen may include lowering the outlet oxygen concentration to any suitable level, such as below about 1 percent, below about 0.1 percent, below about 1,000 parts per million, below about 100 parts per million, below about 10 parts par million, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. Removing free oxygen may occur and/or take place in any suitable device and/or equipment, such as an oxygen removal unit with membranes, chemical injection systems, and/or the like. 
     Drying broadly refers to reducing and/or removing at least a portion of a moisture content from a material and/or a substance. Drying may include reducing a dew point by any suitable amount, such as at least about 10 degrees Celsius, at least about 25 degrees Celsius, at least about 40 degrees Celsius, and/or the like. Drying may include reducing an outlet water content to any suitable level, such as below about saturation, below about 10 percent, below about 1 percent, below about 0.1 percent, below about 1,000 parts per million, below about 100 parts per million, below about 10 parts par million, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. Drying may occur and/or take place in any suitable drying device and/or equipment, such as a drying unit. 
     Compressing broadly refers to increasing a pressure, such as to squeeze and/or reduce a volume of a material and/or a substance. The step of compressing may include any suitable increase in pressure, such as such as at least about 1 bar absolute, at least about 3 bar absolute, at least about 5 bar absolute, at least about 10 bar absolute, at least about 65 bar absolute, at least about 100 bar absolute, and/or the like. The step of compressing may use any suitable equipment and/or device, such as a compression unit with centrifugal compressors, screw compressors, positive displacement compressors, reciprocating compressors, and/or the like. The compressors may include one or more stages operating in series and/or parallel configurations. The compressing step may liquefy at least a portion of a stream. The compressing step may solidify at least a portion of a stream. The compressing step may form a supercritical fluid (above the critical point). The compressing step may provide a motive force, such as to return at least a portion of the third stream to an earlier (higher pressure) point in the process. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of hydrogenating at least a portion of the third stream, the step of optionally drying at least a portion of the third stream, and the step of compressing at least portion of the third stream. 
     Hydrogenation broadly refers to any suitable chemical process to add hydrogen to a compound and/or a substance, such as to reduce and/or saturate the material and/or the substance. Hydrogenation may include full and/or complete hydrogenation, such as all oxygen atoms are removed from hydrocarbons to form water. Hydrogenation may include partial and/or mild hydrogenation, such as to react only a suitable portion of the possible sites and/or atoms. Hydrogenation may use a catalyst. Hydrogenation may sometimes be referred to as methanation, such as where carbon dioxide with hydrogen converts to methane and water. Hydrogenation may occur and/or take place in any suitable device and/or equipment, such as a hydrogenation unit. Hydrogenation may occur and/or take place in any suitable location and/or stage in the process, such as after the sulfur recovery unit to convert sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of hydrogenating at least a portion of the third stream, the step of washing at least portion of the third stream, the step of cooling at least portion of the third stream, optionally the step of drying at least a portion of the third stream, and the step of compressing at least a portion of the third stream. 
     Washing broadly refers to contacting with a suitable wash media and/or solution, such as water, solvent, salt solution, amine, and/or the like. Washing may remove any suitable amount of an impurity, such as at least about at least about 10 percent, at least about 25 percent, at least about 50 percent, at least about 75 percent, at least about 90 percent, at least about 95 percent, at least about 99 percent, and/or the like of the impurity from an incoming stream on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. Washing may use any suitable device and/or equipment, such as a washing unit with contacting equipment, trays, packing demisters, spray nozzles, columns, and/or the like. Washing may increase a water content in a stream, such as to a saturation level and/or the like. 
     Cooling broadly refers to lowering and/or dropping a temperature and/or internal energy of a substance, such as by any suitable amount. Cooling may include a temperature drop of at least about 1 degree Celsius, at least about 5 degrees Celsius, at least about 10 degrees Celsius, at least about 15 degrees Celsius, at least about 25 degrees Celsius, at least about 50 degrees Celsius, at least about 100 degrees Celsius, at least about 200 degrees Celsius, at least about 500 degrees Celsius, and/or the like. The cooling may use any suitable heat sink, such as steam generation, hot water heating, cooling water, air, refrigerant, other process streams (integration), and/or the like. One or more sources of cooling may be combined and/or cascaded to reach a desired outlet temperature. 
     The cooling step may use a cooling unit with any suitable device and/or equipment. According to one embodiment, cooling may include indirect heat exchange, such as with one or more heat exchangers. Heat exchangers may include any suitable design, such as shell and tube, plate and frame, counter current, concurrent, extended surface, and/or the like. In the alternative, the cooling may use evaporative (heat of vaporization) cooling and/or direct heat exchange, such as a liquid sprayed directly into a process stream. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of hydrogenating at least a portion of the third stream, the step of washing at least a portion of the third stream, the step of cooling at least a portion of the third stream, optionally the step of drying at least a portion of the third stream, the step of compressing at least a portion of the third stream, and the step of treating at least a portion of the third stream in a tail gas treatment unit. 
     Treating broadly refers to any suitable action to act upon and/or improve a substance and/or material. Treating may include reducing an amount and/or quantity of sulfur in a stream, such as following and/or subsequent to a sulfur recovery step. 
     Tail gas broadly refers to an exit stream and/or an exhaust from a unit and/or device. The tail gas may be at any suitable temperature and/or pressure. The tail gas may be vented to atmosphere, used in subsequent processing, used in subsequent pollution control devices, used in subsequent heat recovery, used in subsequent power recovery, and/or the like. 
     The tail gas treatment unit may include any suitable devices and/or equipment, such as a burner, a catalyst bed, an ammonia scrubber, a brine treatment device, an amine contactor, a wash column, a regeneration column, and/or the like. The tail gas treatment unit can reduce sulfur oxides, convert of sulfur oxides to elemental sulfur, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the reacting occurs with one or more catalysts of decreasing temperature, and the third stream connects to one or more of the one or more catalysts. The catalysts may be arranged in any suitable configuration, such as one or more series and/or parallel arrangements. The configurations may include cooling in between one or more stages and/or reactors. The reacting may use any suitable equipment and/or devices, such as one or more shift conversion units. The shift conversion units may include high temperature shift converters, medium temperature shift converters, low temperature shift converters, and/or the like. The shift converters may include any suitable catalysts, such as sweet shift catalyst, sour shift catalyst, and/or the like. The shift conversion unit may include any suitable number of stages, such as at least about 1, at least about 2, at least about 3, at least about 4, and/or the like. 
     Connect broadly refers to join and/or establish communication, such as fluid communication. Fluid communication may be established by any suitable manner, such as pipes, tubing, conduits, channels, flow paths, placing in proximity, and/or the like. Connecting may include any suitable motive force devices, such as to move a substance and/or a material from one location to another. Motive force devices may include pumps, compressors, blowers, ejectors, eductors, conveyors, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of separating a hydrogen sulfide stream from a portion of the third stream, the step of directing at least a portion of the hydrogen sulfide stream to combine with at least a portion of the second stream, the step of drying at least a portion of the third stream, the step of compressing at least a portion of the third stream, and the step of directing at least a portion of the third stream to one or more catalysts. 
     Separating a hydrogen sulfide steam may use any suitable technique, such as solvent extraction, amine contacting, and/or the like. The hydrogen sulfide stream may come from and/or originate in a tail gas treatment unit and recycle back to a sulfur recovery unit influent stream, such as to increase a total efficiency of sulfur removal. 
     The step of directing at least a portion of the third stream to one or more catalysts may allow for destruction of the one or more sulfur compounds, such as carbonyl sulfide to hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of reacting a feedstock stream to form at least a portion of the first stream. The reacting may include any suitable reaction, such as at least one of gasification, reforming, steam methane reforming, oxidation, partial oxidation, pyrolysis, coking, cracking, catalytic cracking, thermal cracking, and/or the like. The step of reacting may include any suitable equipment and/or devices, such as furnaces, reformers, combustors, gasifiers, cokers, fixed beds, fluidized beds, slurry beds, risers, downers, regenerators, heat exchangers, quenches, pressure vessels, pipes, valves, pumps, compressors, control systems, and/or the like. The reacting may take place and/or occur in any suitable reactor unit, such as one or more of a gasification unit, a reforming unit, a steam methane reforming unit, a partial oxidation unit, a pyrolysis unit, a coking unit, a coking unit, and/or the like. The reactor unit may convert any suitable amount of the feedstock stream into hydrogen and/or syngas. 
     Feedstock broadly refers to any suitable material and/or substance for consumption, reaction, conversion, processing, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the feedstock may include carbonaceous materials, such as coal, peat, coke, petroleum coke, bitumen, crude oil, tar sands, fossil fuels, biomass, biomass char, and/or the like. Desirably, but not necessarily, at least a portion of the feedstock may originate and/or be supplied from renewable resources, such as non-fossil fuels. 
     Biomass broadly refers to plant and/or animal materials and/or substances derived at least in part from living substances, such as lignocellulosic sources. Lignocellulosic broadly refers to containing cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and/or the like, such as plant material. Lignocellulosic material may include any suitable material, such as sugar cane, sugar cane bagasse, energy cane, energy cane bagasse, rice, rice straw, corn, corn stover, wheat, wheat straw, maize, maize stover, sorghum, sorghum stover, sweet sorghum, sweet sorghum stover, cotton, cotton remnant, sugar beet, sugar beet pulp, soybean, rapeseed, jatropha, switchgrass, miscanthus, other grasses, algae, fungi, bacteria, timber, softwood, hardwood, wood bark; wood waste, sawdust, paper, paper waste, agricultural waste, manure, dung, sewage, municipal solid waste, any other suitable biomass material, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the step of reacting produces at least some amount and/or quantity of hydrogen and/or syngas. Syngas broadly refers to a mixture of gases derived at least in part from synthetic steps and/or actions. The syngas may include any suitable composition, such as primarily hydrogen with some amount of carbon oxides (carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide) and/or other contaminants. The syngas may have any suitable energy content, such as high value syngas with an energy content greater than methane on a volumetric basis, syngas with an energy content about equal to methane on a volumetric basis, low value syngas with an energy content less than methane on a volumetric basis, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the process includes the step of separating a hydrogen stream from a portion of the second stream, and the step of using at least a portion of the hydrogen stream to produce at least one of steam, electricity, ammonia, methanol, synthetic hydrocarbon products, and/or the like. 
     Separating a hydrogen steam may use any suitable technique, such as solvent extraction, distillation, cryogenic separation, membrane separation, pressure swing absorption, temperature swing absorption, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the separating may occur in an acid gas removal unit. 
     Acid gas removal unit broadly refers to any suitable device and/or equipment to separate at least a portion of an acid gas stream from another process stream, such as a hydrogen stream. Acid gas broadly refers to a gas and/or vapor that contains hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, other similar contaminants, and/or the like. Desirably, the acid gas removal unit can separate and/or form a hydrogen stream or a purified syngas stream, and an acid gas stream. The acid gas removal unit may also separate the acid gas stream into one or more components and/or constituents, such as into a carbon dioxide stream and a hydrogen sulfide stream. 
     The acid gas removal unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as pumps, valves, pipes, compressors, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, distillation columns, control systems, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the acid gas removal unit includes one or more absorber towers and one or more stripper towers. The acid gas removal unit may recover and/or separate any suitable amount of acid gas from a process stream, such as at least about 50 percent, at least about 75 percent, at least about 85 percent, at least about 90 percent, at least about 95 percent, at least about 99 percent, and/or the like on a mass basis, a volume basis, a mole basis, and/or the like. 
     The acid gas removal unit may include Rectisol systems from Linde AG, Munich, Germany, and/or Lurgi GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany, methanol systems, alcohol systems, amine systems, promoted amine systems, hindered amine systems, glycol systems, ether systems, potassium carbonate systems, water scrubbing systems, other suitable solvents, and/or the like. 
     Solvent broadly refers to a substance and/or material capable at least in part of dissolving and/or dispersing one or more other materials and/or substances, such as to provide and/or form a solution. The solvent may be polar, nonpolar, neutral, protic, aprotic, and/or the like. The solvent may include any suitable element, molecule, and/or compound, such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, glycols, ethers, ketones, other alcohols, amines, salt solutions, and/or the like. The solvent may include physical solvents, chemical solvents, and/or the like. The solvent may operate by any suitable mechanism, such as physical absorption, chemical absorption, chemisorption, physisorption, adsorption, pressure swing adsorption, temperature swing adsorption, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, a solvent stream of the acid gas removal unit includes primarily methanol. The solvent stream may be at any suitable pressure and/or temperature. 
     Use broadly refers to put into action or service, to carry out a purpose, and/or the like. 
     The hydrogen stream may be used for any suitable purpose, such as one or more of sold for industrial gas supply, sold for fuel, used to produce steam, used to produce electricity, used to produce ammonia, used to produce methanol, used to produce synthetic hydrocarbon products, and/or the like. 
     Synthetic hydrocarbon products broadly refer to compounds made by gas to liquids techniques and/or the like, such as Fischer-Tropsch processes, methanol to olefins, and/or the like. Synthetic hydrocarbons may include straight chain molecules, branched molecules, saturated molecules, unsaturated molecules, cyclic molecules, aromatic molecules, and/or the like. The synthetic hydrocarbons may include any other suitable functionality, such as ethers, alcohols, ketones, and/or the like. The synthetic hydrocarbons may be suitable for fuel usage, such as gasoline, gasoline blending stock, diesel, diesel blending stock, aviation fuel, aviation fuel blending stock, heating oil, heating oil blending stock, other transportation fuels, and/or the like. In the alternative, the synthetic hydrocarbons may be suitable for other applications and/or uses, such as chemical feedstocks, chemical products, solvents, coatings, surfactants, adhesives, copolymers, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the methanol may supply at least of portion of the methanol used in the acid gas removal unit. 
     The use of hydrogen may include any suitable equipment and/or device, such as one or more of a steam generation unit, an electricity generation unit, an ammonia generation unit, a methanol generation unit, a synthetic hydrocarbon product generation unit, and/or the like. Generation broadly refers to producing, making, manufacturing, and/or the like. The generation units may use and/or consume at least a portion of the hydrogen stream. 
     The steam generation unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as boilers, heat exchangers, steam generators, turbines, condensers, and/or the like. The electricity generation unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as generators, transformers, and/or the like. The ammonia generation unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as compressors, converters, refrigeration systems, and/or the like. The methanol generation unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as compressors, converters, refrigeration systems, and/or the like. The synthetic hydrocarbon generation unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as compressors, reactors, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the process includes the step of separating a carbon dioxide stream from a portion of the second stream, and the step of using at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream for one or more of carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, industrial gas supply, chemical synthesis and production, and/or the like. The separating of the carbon dioxide stream may include any suitable equipment and/or device, such as the acid gas removal unit described above, and/or the like. 
     Carbon sequestration broadly refers to long term storage of carbon dioxide and/or other forms of carbon, such as by use of geoengineering techniques to deposit carbon into the ocean, on the land surface, and/or the like. Carbon sequestration may also include aspects of carbon capture and storage, such as injection into geologic formations. The carbon sequestration may use any suitable device and/or equipment, such as a carbon sequestration unit with compressors, pumps, and/or the like. 
     Enhanced oil recovery broadly refers to techniques and/or strategies to increase an amount of hydrocarbon recovered and/or removed from a geological structure. Enhanced oil recovery may include gas injection, chemical injection, ultrasonic stimulation, microbial injection, thermal recovery, and/or the like. Enhanced oil recovery may increase an amount of crude oil, natural gas, bitumen, coal, and/or the like. The enhanced oil recovery may use any suitable device and/or equipment, such as an enhanced oil recovery unit with compressors, pumps, and/or the like. 
     Industrial gas supply broadly includes uses and gases for commercial purposes and/or applications, such as refrigeration, food preservation, food preparation, beverage preparation, medical usage, chemical processes, biological processes, refrigeration, metallurgical processes, and/or the like. The industrial gas supply may use any suitable device and/or equipment, such as an industrial gas supply unit with compressors, pumps, and/or the like. 
     Chemical synthesis and production broadly includes materials and/or compounds derived at least in part from the streams of the processes and/or apparatuses, such as the greenhouse gas stream and/or carbon dioxide stream. The chemical synthesis and production may use any suitable device and/or equipment, such as a chemical synthesis and production unit compressors, reactors, pumps, and/or the like. According to one embodiment, the chemicals may include urea, carbonic acid, other fertilizers, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention may include a process of producing clean syngas. Clean syngas broadly refers to having at least a portion of non-hydrogen materials removed from a stream, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and/or the like. The process may include the step of reacting a feedstock stream in a reactor unit to form a reactor unit effluent stream, and the step of converting the reactor unit effluent stream in a shift conversion unit to form a shift conversion unit effluent stream. The process may include the step of separating the shift conversion unit effluent stream in an acid gas removal unit to form a hydrogen stream, a hydrogen sulfide acid gas stream, and a carbon dioxide stream, and the step of recovering elemental sulfur from the hydrogen sulfide acid gas stream in a sulfur recovery unit to form a sulfur stream and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. The process may include the step of connecting the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream to the shift conversion unit. 
     Effluent broadly refers to flowing out of, leaving and/or exiting. 
     According to one embodiment, the process may include the step of hydrogenating the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, the step of washing the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, the step of cooling the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, optionally the step of drying the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and the step of compressing the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. 
     The shift conversion unit may include any suitable devices and/or equipment, such as one or more shift converters of decreasing temperature. Desirably, the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connects to one or more of the one or more shift converters, such as the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connects to a first shift converter. 
     The process may also include the step of separating a second hydrogen sulfide stream from the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream in a tail gas treatment unit, and the step of connecting the second hydrogen sulfide stream back to the sulfur recovery unit. 
     The separating the hydrogen sulfide stream may occur in an acid gas removal unit, as described above, for example. 
     According to one embodiment, the reactor unit may include at least one of a gasification unit, a reforming unit, a partial oxidation unit, a pyrolysis unit, and/or the like. 
     The hydrogen stream may be used for any suitable purpose, such as using the hydrogen stream to produce steam, electricity, ammonia, methanol, synthetic hydrocarbon products, and/or the like. 
     The carbon dioxide stream may be used for any suitable purpose, such as using the carbon dioxide stream for carbon sequestration, enhanced oil recovery, industrial gas supply, chemical synthesis and production, and/or the like. 
     The process may include where the step of converting the reactor unit effluent stream in a shift conversion unit further includes reducing a pollutant from the sulfur recovery effluent unit tail gas stream. The pollutant may include any suitable substance and/or material, such as carbonyl sulfide, hydrogen sulfide, organic sulfur compounds, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention may include an apparatus for reducing pollutants. The apparatus may include a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, a shift conversion unit connected to the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, a shift conversion unit effluent stream connected to the shift conversion unit, an acid gas removal unit connected to the shift conversion unit effluent stream, a hydrogen stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, optionally a carbon dioxide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, a hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, a sulfur recovery unit connected to the hydrogen sulfide stream and the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and/or a sulfur stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit. 
     Apparatus broadly refers to one or more devices and/or equipment to perform and/or accomplish a step, a task, and/or an outcome. Apparatuses may use mechanical principles, chemical principles, thermodynamic principles, and/or the like. The apparatus and any parts and/or portions of the apparatus may have any of the features and/or characteristics with respect to processes and/or apparatuses described within this specification. 
     Device broadly refers to a piece of equipment and/or a mechanism, such as to perform and/or accomplish a step, a task, and/or an outcome. One or more devices may form a portion of a unit and/or an apparatus. 
     According to one embodiment, the apparatus may also include a hydrogenation unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, a washing unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, a cooling unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, optionally a drying unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and/or a compression unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. 
     According to one embodiment, the apparatus may include where the shift conversion unit includes one or more shift converters of decreasing temperature, and the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connects to one or more of the one or more of the shift converters. 
     The apparatus may include a tail gas treatment unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and a second hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the tail gas treatment unit and the sulfur recovery unit, such as for returning hydrogen sulfide from the tail gas treatment unit for additional recovery. 
     According to one embodiment, the apparatus may include where the reactor unit includes at least one of a gasification unit, a reforming unit, a partial oxidation unit, a pyrolysis unit, and/or the like. 
     The apparatus may include at least one of a steam generation unit, an electricity generation unit, an ammonia generation unit, a methanol generation unit, a synthetic hydrocarbon product generation unit, and/or the like, such as to consume and/or use at least a portion of the hydrogen stream. 
     The apparatus may also include a carbon sequestration unit, an enhanced oil recovery unit, an industrial gas supply unit, and/or the like. 
     Embodiments with stand alone shift converters (non-recycle) for pollutant destruction and/or removal are within the scope of this invention. 
     According to one embodiment, the invention may include an apparatus for producing syngas. The apparatus may include a feedstock stream, a reactor unit connected to the feedstock stream, a reactor unit effluent stream connected to the reactor unit, and a shift conversion unit connected to the reactor unit effluent stream. The shift conversion unit may include one or more shift conversion devices. The apparatus may include a shift conversion unit effluent stream connected to the shift conversion unit, an acid gas removal unit connected to the shift conversion unit effluent stream, a hydrogen stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, a hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, a carbon dioxide stream connected to the acid gas removal unit, a sulfur recovery unit connected to the hydrogen sulfide stream, a sulfur stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit, and a sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit and the shift conversion unit. 
     The apparatus may further include a hydrogenation unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, a washing unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream, and a cooling unit on the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream. 
     The shift conversion unit may include one or more shift converters of decreasing temperature and the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream connects to one or more of the one or more shift converters. 
     The apparatus may further include a tail gas treatment unit to form a second hydrogen sulfide stream from the sulfur recovery unit effluent tail gas stream and to form a tail gas treatment unit effluent stream, the second hydrogen sulfide stream connected to the sulfur recovery unit, a drying unit on the tail gas treatment unit effluent stream, a compression unit on the tail gas treatment unit effluent stream, and the tail gas treatment unit effluent connected to the shift conversion unit. 
     The reactor unit may include any suitable device and/or equipment, such as at least one of a gasification unit, a reforming unit, a partial oxidation unit, a pyrolysis unit, and/or the like. The reactor unit may form a portion of a larger plant, such as a power plant, a petroleum refinery, a chemical production complex, and/or the like. The plant may include simple cycle gas turbines, combined cycle gas turbines, heat recovery units, boilers, steam generators, and/or the like. The plant may include an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) configuration optionally with carbon sequestration. Desirably, but not necessarily, the plant operates with reduced carbon emissions compared to plants of conventional configuration, such as a coal fired boiler exhausting directly to the atmosphere. 
     The apparatus may further include a steam generation unit, an electricity generation unit, an ammonia generation unit, a methanol generation unit, a synthetic hydrocarbon product generation unit, and/or the like. 
     According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes where the carbon dioxide stream connects to a carbon sequestration unit with a carbon sequestration stream, an enhanced oil recovery unit with an enhanced oil recovery stream, an industrial gas supply unit with an industrial gas supply stream, and/or the like. 
     As used herein the terms “has”, “having”, “comprising” “with”, “containing”, and “including” are open and inclusive expressions. Alternately, the term “consisting” is a closed and exclusive expression. Should any ambiguity exist in construing any term in the claims or the specification, the intent of the drafter is toward open and inclusive expressions. 
     As used herein the term “and/or the like” provides support for any and all individual and combinations of items and/or members in a list, as well as support for equivalents of individual and combinations of items and/or members. 
     Regarding an order, number, sequence, and/or limit of repetition for steps in a method or process, the drafter intends no implied order, number, sequence and/or limit of repetition for the steps to the scope of the invention, unless explicitly provided. 
     Regarding ranges, ranges are to be construed as including all points between upper values and lower values, such as to provide support for all possible ranges contained between the upper values and the lower values including ranges with no upper bound and/or lower bound. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed structures and methods without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Particularly, descriptions of any one embodiment can be freely combined with descriptions of other embodiments to result in combinations and/or variations of two or more elements and/or limitations. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.