US4025322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Removal of hydrocarbons and water from acid gas streams
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1976-04-30
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Granted: 1977-05-24
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Expires: 1996-04-30
Abstract
Abstract Sour gas streams containing significant quantities of contaminating H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons are contacted with an aqueous absorbent to remove the contaminants and produce a sweet gas, the contaminants are desorbed and contacted with a selective absorbent which absorbs the aromatic hydrocarbons and rejects the H 2 S, and the aromatic hydrocarbons are recovered. If CO 2 is also present in the sour gas, provision is also made for its removal from the gas stream.
Inventors
- 👤 Edwin J. Fisch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:34
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1456; B01D53/1462; B01D53/1487
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
A process for the removal of H 2 S, CO 2 and aromatic hydrocarbons from sour gases, comprising, (A) contacting the sour gas in an absorption zone and absorbing the H 2 S, CO 2 , and aromatic hydrocarbons with a selective aqueous absorbent mixture and producing a sweet product gas stream and a loaded absorbent; (B) passing the loaded absorbent to a first desorption zone and regenerating the loaded absorbent and producing a gas stream containing principally H 2 S, CO 2 and aromatic hydrocarbons; (C) selectively absorbing the aromatic hydrocarbons from the gas stream, and producing an aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent and an H 2 S, CO 2 -containing gas stream; (D) passing the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent to a second desorption zone and regenerating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich stream, and recovering the aromatic hydrocarbons; (E) selectively absorbing H 2 S from the H 2 S, CO 2 -containing gas stream to produce a CO 2 -containing stream and an H 2 S-rich absorbent; (F) and regenerating the H 2 S-rich absorbent to produce an H 2 S-containing gas stream containing a high proportion of H 2 S.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
A process for the removal of H 2 S, CO 2 and aromatic hydrocarbons from sour gases, comprising, (A) contacting the sour gas in an absorption zone and absorbing the H 2 S, CO 2 , and aromatic hydrocarbons with a selective aqueous absorbent mixture and producing a sweet product gas stream and a loaded absorbent; (B) passing the loaded absorbent to a first desorption zone and regenerating the loaded absorbent and producing a gas stream containing principally H 2 S, CO 2 and aromatic hydrocarbons; (C) selectively absorbing the aromatic hydrocarbons from the gas stream, and producing an aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent and an H 2 S, CO 2 -containing gas stream; (D) passing the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent to a second desorption zone and regenerating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich stream, and recovering the aromatic hydrocarbons; (E) selectively absorbing H 2 S from the H 2 S, CO 2 -containing gas stream to produce a CO 2 -containing stream and an H 2 S-rich absorbent; (F) and regenerating the H 2 S-rich absorbent to produce an H 2 S-containing gas stream containing a high proportion of H 2 S.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the absorbent comprises sulfolane containing up to 10 percent water by weight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the sulfolane contains up to 5 percent water by weight.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for the removal of H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons from sour gases, comprising, (A) contacting the sour gas in an absorption zone and absorbing the H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons with a selective aqueous absorbent mixture, and producing a sweet product gas and a loaded absorbent; (B) passing the loaded absorbent to a first desorption zone and regenerating the loaded absorbent, and producing a gas stream containing principally H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons; (C) selectively absorbing the aromatic hydrocarbons from the gas stream in an absorbent containing a component selected from sulfolane, substituted sulfolanes, n-methyl pyrrolidone, mixtures thereof, and compositions containing said materials or mixtures thereof and up to 10 percent water, and producing an aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent and an H 2 S-containing gas stream; (D) passing the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent to a second desorption zone and regenerating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
151 words
A process for the removal of H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons from sour gases, comprising, (A) contacting the sour gas in an absorption zone and absorbing the H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons with a selective aqueous absorbent mixture, and producing a sweet product gas and a loaded absorbent; (B) passing the loaded absorbent to a first desorption zone and regenerating the loaded absorbent, and producing a gas stream containing principally H 2 S and aromatic hydrocarbons; (C) selectively absorbing the aromatic hydrocarbons from the gas stream in an absorbent containing a component selected from sulfolane, substituted sulfolanes, n-methyl pyrrolidone, mixtures thereof, and compositions containing said materials or mixtures thereof and up to 10 percent water, and producing an aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent and an H 2 S-containing gas stream; (D) passing the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent to a second desorption zone and regenerating the aromatic hydrocarbons from the aromatic hydrocarbon-rich absorbent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the absorbent comprises sulfolane containing up to 10 percent water by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the sulfolane contains up to 5 percent water by weight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-05-23 | 1980-11-22 | 1981-05-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-23 | 1984-11-22 | 1985-05-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-23 | 1988-11-22 | 1989-05-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |