Method of recovering h2s from natural gas

Claim 1

IN THE REVOVAL AND RECOVERY OF H2S FROM NATURAL GAS CONTAINING H2S INVOLVING THE CONTACT OF ADSORBENT MATERIAL WITH THE NATURAL GAS FROM WHICH WATER VAPOR AND CONDENSABLE HYDROCARBONS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN REMOVED THEREFROM WITH RESULTANT ADSORPTION OF THE H2S BY THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL AND THE SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT OF THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL WITH A HEATED MEDIUM TO VAPORIZE AND REMOVE THE H2S AND THEREBY REACTIVATE THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL FOR FURTHER CONTACT WITH THE NATURAL GAS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES PROVIDING AT LEAST ONE BED OF ADSORBENT MATERIAL IN EACH OF A PLURALITY OF ZONES; CONTINUOUSLY HEATING AND RECYCLING A FLOW OF A GAS CONSISTING SUBSTANTIALLY OF H2S UNDER HIHG PRESSURE THROUGH AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ZONES TO REMOVE THE H2S CONTAINED IN THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL THEREIN AND REACTIVATE THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL; DIRECTING A CONTINUOUS FLOW OF THE NATURAL GAS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE THROUGHT THE REMAINDER OF SAID ZONES OS THAT THE H2S CONTENT OF THE GAS WILL BE ADSORBED BY THE ADSORBENT MATERIAL THEREIN; PERIODICALLY SHIFTING THE RELATIVE POSITION OF THE PARTICULAR ADSORBENT MATERIAL AND THE PARTICULAR FLOW OF FLUID IN EACH OF SAID ZONE SO THAT EACH ZONE BECOMES, IN SUCCESSION, A REACTIVATION ZONE AND AN ADSORPTION ZONE; AND CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING A PORTION OF THE HOT H2S GAS FROM THE RECYCLING PATH.