US4664903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Removal of sulfur compounds from gases
Assignee: Linde GmbH
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Filing: 1985-06-07
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Granted: 1987-05-12
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Expires: 2005-06-07
Abstract
Abstract For the removal of sulfur compounds, especially H2S, from gases that contain hydrocarbons, and/or CO2, the gases are scrubbed with a physical solvent, which is to be regenerated and reused. To obtain sulfur free of hydrocarbons, as well as a practically sulfur-free LPG fraction and optionally a C5+ fraction, an oxidizing agent is added to the solvent for reacting the sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur, and the sulfur is separated. The concomitantly absorbed hydrocarbons and/or CO2 can then be desorbed from the separated solvent by physical regeneration and can be recovered.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Becker
- 👤 Michael Heisel
- 👤 Karl Baur
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:27
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B17/00; C01B17/02; C01B17/04; C01B17/05; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1418; B01D53/1456; B01D53/1468; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/11; C10; C10K; C10K1/00; C10K1/08; C10K1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a process for the removal of sulfur compounds from gases that include a C 3+ hydrocarbon fraction, comprising scrubbing the gas with a physical solvent which absorbs the sulfur compounds and gases that include a C 3+ fraction in the scrubbing stage and regenerating and reusing the physical solvent, the improvement comprising withdrawing the loaded solvent from the scrubbing stage; adding an oxidizing agent to the physical solvent to react the sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur; separating the resultant sulfur from the solvent; and further separating and recovering the co-absorbed gases that include a C 3+ fraction from the solvent by physical regeneration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a process for the removal of sulfur compounds from gases that include a C 3+ hydrocarbon fraction, comprising scrubbing the gas with a physical solvent which absorbs the sulfur compounds and gases that include a C 3+ fraction in the scrubbing stage and regenerating and reusing the physical solvent, the improvement comprising withdrawing the loaded solvent from the scrubbing stage; adding an oxidizing agent to the physical solvent to react the sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur; separating the resultant sulfur from the solvent; and further separating and recovering the co-absorbed gases that include a C 3+ fraction from the solvent by physical regeneration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is added to the solvent after the sulfur compounds are absorbed therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 1, comprising conducting, in a first process step, the separation of the sulfur compounds from the solvent and, in a subsequent, second process step, conducting the separating and recovery of the gases including a C 3+ fraction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein several different oxidizing agents are added in separate oxidizing stages.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 1, said oxidizing agent being added in an approximately stoichiometric proportion with respect to the reaction of the sulfur compounds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is oxygen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidizing agent is SO 2 and/or SO 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the addition of the oxidizing agent and/or the separation of sulfur from the solvent is performed in several series-arranged stages; and that, between individual stages, the temperature and/or the pressure of the solvent is lowered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent loaded with sulfur compounds is brought to a higher pressure and/or is heated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 9, wherein gaseous phases forming during raising of the temperature and/or lowering of the pressure of the solvent are recycled into the scrubbing step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent, to separate the sulfur, is brought to temperatures of between -50° and +75° C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent, to separate the sulfur, is brought to temperatures of between 0° and +40° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, further comprising adding to the solvent an additive that accelerates the reaction rate of the reaction and/or enhances the sedimentation of the thus-formed sulfur.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the separated sulfur has solvent in admixture therewith, and the solvent withdrawn together with the sulfur is separated by heating the sulfur-solvent mixture, the resultant solvent being returned into the solvent cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein the sulfur-solvent mixture is heated to between 120° and 140° C., and the sulfur is separated in the liquid form from the solvent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is separated, by heating and/or stripping, from lighter hydrocarbons and/or the CO 2 and from any water produced during the reaction of the sulfur compounds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein C 5+ hydrocarbons are separated from the solvent by decanting after addition of water and/or by extraction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 16, wherein heavy hydrocarbons are removed from the raw gas in a process step preceding the reaction of the sulfur compounds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process according to claim 18, said heavy hydrocarbons being separated from the raw gas by means of a scrubbing step wherein the scrubbing step is performed with a partial stream of the loaded solvent from the sulfur scrubbing stage; and the heavy hydrocarbons are separated from said partial stream by decanting after addition of water and/or by extraction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, further fractionating the gases including a C 3+ fraction to form an essentially sulfur-free LPG fraction.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1, further fractionating the gases including a C 3+ fraction to form a C 5+ fraction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 20, wherein the sulfur-free LPG fraction has less than about 5-500 molar ppm of sulfide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is an alcohol, a ketone, a polyethylene glycol ethers or an aromatic hydrocarbon.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent is methanol, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethylformamide, polyethylene glycol ether, butyrolactone, toluene or xylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 13, wherein the additive is ammonium rhodanide.
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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) | 1990-05-11 | 1990-11-10 | 1991-05-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-11 | 1994-11-10 | 1995-05-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-11 | 1998-11-10 | 1999-05-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |