US4036942A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans from liquid and gaseous streams
Assignee: Ari Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-22
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Granted: 1977-07-19
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Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A process is provided for removing hydrogen sulfide and alkyl mercaptans from fluid streams by reaction with oxygen in the presence of a metal amino acid chelate in aqueous solution containing an amine, converting hydrogen sulfide to sulfur and alkyl mercaptans to dialkyl disulfides, and separating these from the aqueous metal chelate solution.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Pierre Sibeud
- 👤 Charles David Ruff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:31
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/02; C01B17/04; C01B17/05; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/46; B01D53/48; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/72; C02F1/725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A cyclic continuous process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide contained in gaseous streams, and the substantially quantitative catalytic conversion thereof to elemental sulfur, while inhibiting the buildup in the system of water-soluble by-products such as sulfates, which comprises contacting the gaseous stream with free oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polyvalent metal chelate catalyst retaining the metal in soluble form in the aqueous solution, an inorganic alkali in an amount to adjust the pH to within the range from about 6.8 to about 10, and a strongly alkaline free organic amine in an amount within the range from about 0.1% to about 50% sufficient to inhibit water-soluble by-product formation, thereby concurrently forming sulfur and causing polyvalent metal catalyst oxidation and regeneration reactions in the oxidation-reduction metal chelate reaction system to proceed concurrently, while lessening buildup of water-soluble by-products in the catalyst solution; separating the sulfur from the aqueous metal chelate solution; and recycling the regenerated aqueous polyvalent metal chelate catalyst solution thereby recovered to contact another portion of the gaseous stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A cyclic continuous process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide contained in gaseous streams, and the substantially quantitative catalytic conversion thereof to elemental sulfur, while inhibiting the buildup in the system of water-soluble by-products such as sulfates, which comprises contacting the gaseous stream with free oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polyvalent metal chelate catalyst retaining the metal in soluble form in the aqueous solution, an inorganic alkali in an amount to adjust the pH to within the range from about 6.8 to about 10, and a strongly alkaline free organic amine in an amount within the range from about 0.1% to about 50% sufficient to inhibit water-soluble by-product formation, thereby concurrently forming sulfur and causing polyvalent metal catalyst oxidation and regeneration reactions in the oxidation-reduction metal chelate reaction system to proceed concurrently, while lessening buildup of water-soluble by-products in the catalyst solution; separating the sulfur from the aqueous metal chelate solution; and recycling the regenerated aqueous polyvalent metal chelate catalyst solution thereby recovered to contact another portion of the gaseous stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, in which the metal amino acid chelate catalyst is formed from a chelating amino acid of the formula ##STR2## in which from two to four of the groups X are selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and propionic acid groups and any remaining groups are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and CN, and in which R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene having at least two carbon atoms, cyclohexylene in which the nitrogen atoms attached to the ring are in the 1,2-positions, and phenylene in which the nitrogen atoms attached to the ring are in the 1,2-positions, and a member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and methyl being substituted for hydrogen in at least one of the 3- and 6-positions in the cyclohexylene or phenylene ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, in which the amino acid is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, in which the amino acid is N-hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine triacetic acid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, in which the sulfur is separated as a solid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, in which the sulfur is liquefied, and sulfur is separated by liquid-liquid phase separation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, in which the polyvalent metal is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process in accordance with claim 6, in which the polyvalent metal is iron.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
170 words
A cyclic continuous process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide contained in gaseous streams, and the substantially quantitative catalytic conversion thereof to elemental sulfur, while inhibiting the buildup in the system of water-soluble by-products such as sulfates, which comprises contacting the gaseous stream with free oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polyvalent metal chelate catalyst retaining the metal in soluble form in the aqueous solution and a strongly alkaline free organic amine in an amount within the range from about 5% to about 50% sufficient to adjust the pH to within the range from about 6.8 to about 10 and to inhibit water-soluble by-product formation, thereby concurrently forming sulfur and causing polyvalent metal catalyst oxidation and regeneration reactions in the oxidation-reduction metal chelate reaction system to proceed concurrently, while lessening buildup of water-soluble by-products in the catalyst solution; separating the sulfur from the aqueous metal chelate solution; and recycling the regenerated aqueous polyvalent metal chelate catalyst solution thereby recovered to contact another portion of the gaseous stream.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
170 words
A cyclic continuous process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide contained in gaseous streams, and the substantially quantitative catalytic conversion thereof to elemental sulfur, while inhibiting the buildup in the system of water-soluble by-products such as sulfates, which comprises contacting the gaseous stream with free oxygen gas and an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polyvalent metal chelate catalyst retaining the metal in soluble form in the aqueous solution and a strongly alkaline free organic amine in an amount within the range from about 5% to about 50% sufficient to adjust the pH to within the range from about 6.8 to about 10 and to inhibit water-soluble by-product formation, thereby concurrently forming sulfur and causing polyvalent metal catalyst oxidation and regeneration reactions in the oxidation-reduction metal chelate reaction system to proceed concurrently, while lessening buildup of water-soluble by-products in the catalyst solution; separating the sulfur from the aqueous metal chelate solution; and recycling the regenerated aqueous polyvalent metal chelate catalyst solution thereby recovered to contact another portion of the gaseous stream.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process in accordance with claim 9, in which the metal amino acid chelate catalyst is formed from a chelating amino acid of the formula ##STR3## in which from two to four of the groups X are selected from the group consisting of acetic acid and propionic acid groups and any remaining groups are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and CN, and in which R is selected from the group consisting of alkylene having at least two carbon atoms, cyclohexylene in which the nitrogen atoms attached to the ring are in the 1,2-positions, and phenylene in which the nitrogen atoms attached to the ring are in the 1,2-positions, and a member selected from the group consisting of chlorine and methyl being substituted for hydrogen in at least one of the 3- and 6-positions in the cyclohexylene or phenylene ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process in accordance with claim 10 in which the amino acid is ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process in accordance with claim 10 in which the amino acid is N-hydroxyethyl ethylene diamine triacetic acid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the sulfur is separated as a solid.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process in accordance with claim 9 in which the sulfur is liquefied, and sulfur is separated by liquid-liquid phase separation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process in accordance with claim 9, in which the polyvalent metal is selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt and nickel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process in accordance with claim 15, in which the polyvalent metal is iron.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |