Patent ID: 8454824

Claim:
A single vertical tower for treating a stream of rich caustic containing mercaptan compounds comprising, a) an upper section comprising an oxidizer having a top portion and a bottom portion, a distributor located above the top portion configured to mix and deliver at least two inlet fluid streams to a bed of catalyst located below the distributor, where the bottom portion of the oxidizer is in fluid communication with a first shroud of vertical hanging fibers; and b) a lower section comprising, i) an upper separation compartment having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the first shroud extends into and terminates in the top portion of the upper separation compartment; ii) a first liquid collection zone located below the first shroud and having first and second outlets; and iii) a lower separation compartment having a top portion and a bottom portion, where the top portion has a first inlet in fluid communication with the second outlet of the first liquid collection zone and a second shroud of vertical hanging fibers in fluid communication with the first inlet of the top portion of the lower separation compartment, where the second shroud is not connected to the first shroud and terminates above a second liquid collection zone having first and second outlets.