Method of catalytic desulfurization of gases

Claim 1

IN THE RECOVERY OF ELEMENTAL SULPHUR IN LIQUID FORM FROM GASES CONTAINING H2S INVOLVING THE CONTACT OF A CATALYST WITH THE GAS CONTAINING H2S TO FORM SULPHUR VAPOR AND THE SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF THE CATALYST IN AN OXIDIZING ATMOSPHERE TO REGENERATE THE CATALYST FOR FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE GASES CONTAINING H2S AND THE SUBSEQUENT CONDENSATION OF THE SULPHUR VAPOR TO FORM LIQUID SULPHUR, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES ROTATING A SERIES OF SEPARATED THIN BEDS OF CATALYST DIRECTLY AND IN SUCCESSION AND SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUSLY RELATIVE TO AND THROUGH A SERIES OF REACTION ZONES AND A REGENERATING ZONE; CONTINUOUSLY DIRECTING THE FLOW OF THE GAS TO BE TREATED IN SUCCESSION AND IN SERIES THROUGH SAID REACTION ZONES; SUBJECTING THE GAS TO BE TREATED TO HEAT EXCHANGE TO BRING ITS TEMPERATURE TO AN OPTIMUM REACTION TEMPERATURE AND MIXING A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT OF OXIDANT WITH IT PRIOR TO ITS PASSAGE THROUGH EACH OF THE REACTION ZONES TO CONVERT A PORTION OF THE H2S IN EACH OF SAID ZONES INTO SULPHUR VAPOR AND STEAM; CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING THE TREATED GAS FROM THE LAST ONE OF THE REACTION ZONES AND DIRECTING ITS FLOW THROUGH A CONDENSING ZONE AND THERE CONDENSING THE SULPHUR VAPOR TO FORM LIQUID SULPHUR; AND CONTINUOUSLY DIRECTING THE FLOW OF A HOT OXIDIZING MEDIUM THROUGH THE REGENERATING ZONE TO REACTIVATE THE CATALYST THEREIN.