Removal of sulfur compounds from gas streams via precipitation
OwnerGeert Frederik Versteeg, Wouter Nicolaas Werminkinventors
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Abstract
Techniques for removing sulfur compounds from a sulfur-containing gas stream can include contacting the gas with an absorption solution comprising a metal cation capable of reacting with the sulfur compound to form a metal sulphide precipitate and/or a metal mercaptide precipitate. In addition, the treatment can include controlling a concentration of the precipitates below a threshold to maintain rheological properties; subjecting the precipitate-enriched solution to vitalization; subjecting the precipitate-enriched solution to regeneration including oxidation; and/or other features to enhance the sulfur removal operations.
Claims20
A process for removing sulfur compounds from a sulfur-containing gas stream, comprising:
- in an absorption stage, contacting the sulfur-containing gas stream with an absorption solution comprising a metal cation capable of reacting with the sulfur compound to form a metal sulphide precipitate and/or a metal mercaptide precipitate, thereby producing a sulfur-depleted gas stream and a precipitate-enriched solution;
- recycling the precipitate-enriched solution back to the absorption stage, thereby accumulating metal sulphide precipitates in the absorption solution;
- and
- controlling a concentration of the metal sulphide precipitates present in the absorption solution below a threshold in order to maintain rheological properties of the absorption solution in the absorption stage, wherein the threshold is 5 wt % or wherein the process includes adding a surface active agent to the absorption solution in order to raise the threshold compared to no surface active agent.
A method for selectively removing sulphur and/or sulphur containing contaminant compounds from a gas flow, comprising:
- placing the gas flow into contact with a preselected metal ion solution, comprising either one metal ion, or a mixture of metal ions, at a pH lying in a range between a lower pH limit of about −1.0 and an upper pH limit of about 7.7, wherein the metal ion and the contaminants react together in order to form a solid metal salt of the contaminants which precipitates wherein the lower pH limit of about −1.0 substantially ensures that the metal salt formed between the metal ion and the contaminants substantially exclusively is precipitated, and wherein the upper pH limit substantially ensures that non-contaminants are not precipitated out of the gas flow as metal salts;
- and
- controlling a concentration of the solid metal salt present in the solution below a threshold in order to maintain rheological properties of the solution, wherein the threshold is 5 wt % or wherein the method includes adding a surface active agent to the absorption solution in order to raise the threshold compared to no surface active agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.