US4085192A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Selective removal of hydrogen sulfide from gaseous mixtures
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-11
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Granted: 1978-04-18
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Expires: 1993-05-11
Abstract
Abstract Hydrogen sulfide is selectively removed from a hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide-containing gaseous mixture by contacting the gaseous mixture with a deep-stripped, hydrogen sulfide-selective, liquid absorbent in an absorption column having a maximum of 20 trays and a critically high average dry tray pressure drop per tray.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Van Scoy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:25
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/46; B01D53/48; B01D53/52; C; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/16; C01B17/167; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/40; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/151
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A process for selectively removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide which comprises: (a) contacting said gaseous mixture with a hydrogen sulfide-selective aqueous alkanolamine absorbent solution in an absorption column having from 3 to 20 contacting trays, said trays having an average dry tray pressure drop of from about 1.5 to about 5 inches per tray, thereby obtaining a treated gas containing less than 10% of the hydrogen sulfide present in the gaseous feed but more than 50% of the carbon dioxide present in said feed, and a hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide enriched-absorbent solution, (b) passing said hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide-enriched absorbent solution to a regenerating zone and stripping said absorbent solution to a hydrogen sulfide content which corresponds to an equilibrium loading for a H 2 S-content having less than 50% of the hydrogen sulfide content of the treated gas, and (c) returning said regenerated absorbent liquid into contact with the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A process for selectively removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide which comprises: (a) contacting said gaseous mixture with a hydrogen sulfide-selective aqueous alkanolamine absorbent solution in an absorption column having from 3 to 20 contacting trays, said trays having an average dry tray pressure drop of from about 1.5 to about 5 inches per tray, thereby obtaining a treated gas containing less than 10% of the hydrogen sulfide present in the gaseous feed but more than 50% of the carbon dioxide present in said feed, and a hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide enriched-absorbent solution, (b) passing said hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide-enriched absorbent solution to a regenerating zone and stripping said absorbent solution to a hydrogen sulfide content which corresponds to an equilibrium loading for a H 2 S-content having less than 50% of the hydrogen sulfide content of the treated gas, and (c) returning said regenerated absorbent liquid into contact with the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide containing gaseous mixture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the selective alkanolamine absorbent is methyldiethanolamine, triethanolamine or diisopropanolamine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the aqueous absorbent solution additionally contains from 2 to 50% by weight of a cyclotetramethylene sulfone and the gaseous mixture comprises natural gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the gaseous mixture comprises hydrogenated tail gas from a Claus plant for converting H 2 S to elemental sulfur.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the absorption column has from 3 to 15 trays and said trays have an average dry tray pressure drop of from about 2 to about 4 inches per tray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 3 wherein the cyclotetramethylene sulfone is sulfolane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the aqueous absorbent solution contains from 5 to 60% by weight of diisopropanolamine.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 6 wherein the gaseous mixture comprises natural gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 7 wherein the hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide enriched absorbent solution is stripped to a CO 2 content of less than 0.005 moles of CO 2 per mole of diisopropanolamine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 8 wherein the aqueous absorbent solution contains from 5 to 60% by weight diisopropanolamine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 10 wherein the absorption column has from 3 to 10 trays.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the average dry tray pressure drop per tray is from about 2 to about 4 inches per tray.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 12 wherein the aqueous absorbent solution contains from 5 to 25% by weight sulfolane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the gaseous mixture comprises primarily CO 2 and H 2 S in a mole ratio of 1:1 to 25:1 and wherein the contacting of said gaseous mixture with said hydrogen sulfide-selective absorbent solution is conducted at a temperature below 30° C.
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) | 1981-04-17 | 1981-10-17 | 1982-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-04-17 | 1985-10-17 | 1986-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-04-17 | 1989-10-17 | 1990-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |