Method for removal of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds from gas streams

Claim 2

A process for removing a gaseous constituent selected from the group consisting of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous constituent in combination with at least one other gas comprising: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; and b. withdrawing gas from which said gaseous constituent has been removed from said contacting zone.

Claim 3

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous constituent comprises hydrogen sulfide.

Claim 4

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous constituent comprises an oxide of nitrogen.

Claim 5

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said mixture of gases comprises at least one sulfur compound and at least one nitrogen compound in combination with at least one other gas.

Claim 6

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are straight and branched chain alkyl radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms.

Claim 7

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein R 1 and R 2 are cycloalkyl radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms.

Claim 8

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of diaryl and alkyl aryl disulfides.

Claim 9

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises a mixture of diaryl disulfides.

Claim 10

A process as defined in claim 8 wherein said diaryl disulfides contain from about 12 to about 30 carbon atoms per molecule.

Claim 11

A process as defined in claim 1 wherein said solvent comprises ditolyl disulfide.

Claim 12

A process as defined in claim 1 including the additional steps of passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; and returning the stripped solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 13

A process as defined in claim 1 including the additional steps of passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a regeneration zone; regenerating said solvent in said regeneration zone by contacting said solvent with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a base; and returning the regenerated solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 14

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen-containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases which comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c. passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; and e. returning the stripped solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 15

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen-containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases which comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c. passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; and e. returning the stripped solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 16

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said gaseous impurities comprise oxides of sulfur.

Claim 17

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said gaseous impurities comprise sulfur dioxide.

Claim 18

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said gaseous impurities comprise hydrogen sulfide.

Claim 19

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said mixture of gases comprises a stack gas.

Claim 20

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said mixture of gases comprises a synthesis gas.

Claim 21

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said gaseous impurities comprise nitrogen dioxide.

Claim 22

A process as defined in claim 13 wherein said solvent is a mixture of organic disulfides obtained by air blowing an alkaline solution produced by the treatment of mercaptan-containing hydrocarbons with a base.

Claim 23

A process for removing a gaseous constituent selected from the group consisting of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous constituent in combination with at least one other gas comprising: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising a mixture of organic disulfides obtained by air blowing an alkaline solution produced by the treatment of mercaptan-containing hydrocarbons with a base; and b. withdrawing gas from which said gaseous constituent has been removed from said contacting zone.

Claim 24

A process for removing a gaseous constituent selected from the group consisting of gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous constituent in combination with at least one other gas comprising: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising a mixture of organic disulfides obtained by air blowing an alkaline solution produced by the treatment of mercaptan-containing hydrocarbons with a base; and b. withdrawing gas from which said gaseous constituent has been removed from said contacting zone.

Claim 25

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases with comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c, passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; e. passing the stripped solvent from said stripping zone to a regeneration zone; f. regenerating said solvent in said regeneration zone by contacting said solvent with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a base; and g. returning the regenerated solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 26

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases with comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c, passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; e. passing the stripped solvent from said stripping zone to a regeneration zone; f. regenerating said solvent in said regeneration zone by contacting said solvent with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a base; and g. returning the regenerated solvent to said contacting zone.

Claim 27

A process as defined in claim 22 wherein at least one of the gaseous impurities comprises hydrogen sulfide.

Claim 28

A process as defined in claim 22 wherein said oxidizing agent comprises an oxygen-containing gas.

Claim 29

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen-containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases which comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c. passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; e. mixing said stripped solvent with an alkaline wash solution and passing the mixture to a separation zone; f. separating spent alkaline wash solution from said stripped solvent in said separation zone; g. passing said spent alkaline solution from said separation zone to a regeneration zone; h. contacting said spent alkaline solution with an oxidizing agent in said regeneration zone; and i. recovering reconstituted organic disulfides from said regeneration zone.

Claim 30

A process for removing sulfur and nitrogen-containing gaseous impurities from a mixture of gases containing said gaseous impurities in combination with other gases which comprises: a. contacting said mixture of gases with a liquid organic solvent in a contacting zone, said solvent comprising at least one compound of the formula R 1 -- S -- S -- R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are selected from the group consisting of straight and branched chain aliphatic radicals having from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, cycloaliphatic radicals having from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, and aryl radicals having from 6 to about 42 carbon atoms; b. withdrawing a purified product gas from said contacting zone; c. passing said solvent from said contacting zone to a stripping zone; d. stripping absorbed gases from said solvent in said stripping zone; e. mixing said stripped solvent with an alkaline wash solution and passing the mixture to a separation zone; f. separating spent alkaline wash solution from said stripped solvent in said separation zone; g. passing said spent alkaline solution from said separation zone to a regeneration zone; h. contacting said spent alkaline solution with an oxidizing agent in said regeneration zone; and i. recovering reconstituted organic disulfides from said regeneration zone.