Catalysts and process for oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide and sulfur
OwnerGirish Srinivas, Steven Charles Gebhard +1inventors
InventorsGirish Srinivas, Steven Charles Gebhard, Michael E. Karpuk
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to catalysts and catalytic methods for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in a gas stream containing one or more oxidizable components other than H2S to generate sulfur dioxide (SO2), elemental sulfur (S) or both without substantial oxidation of the one or more oxidizable components other than H2S. The catalysts and methods herein are useful, for example, for the selective oxidation of H2S to SO2, sulfur or both in the presence of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon oxygenate, sulfur-containing organic compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen or carbon monoxide.
Claims106
A method for selectively oxidizing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide, sulfur or mixtures thereof in a gas stream containing oxidizable components other than hydrogen sulfide which comprises the step of:
- a. contacting the gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide and other oxidizable components with a mixed metal oxide catalyst at a temperature equal to or less than about 400° C. in the presence of oxygen;
- wherein the mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises a low oxidation activity metal oxide and one or more higher oxidation activity metal oxides such that a substantial amount of the hydrogen sulfide present in the gas stream is oxidized to sulfur dioxide, sulfur or a mixture thereof and wherein less than about 25% by volume of the oxidizable components except sulfur containing compounds are oxidized by the added oxygen.
A method for desulfurization of a gas stream containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen which comprises the step of
- a. contacting the gas stream with a mixed metal oxide catalyst at a temperature equal to or less than about 400° C. in the presence of a selected amount of oxygen;
- wherein the mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises a low oxidation activity metal oxide and one or more higher oxidation activity metal oxides such that a substantial amount of the hydrogen sulfide present in the gas stream is oxidized to sulfur dioxide, sulfur or a mixture thereof and wherein less than about 10% by volume of the carbon monoxide and hydrogen are oxidized.
A catalytic reactor system for selectively oxidizing hydrogen sulfide in a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide to sulfur dioxide, sulfur or mixtures thereof which comprises:
- a catalytic reactor containing a mixed metal oxide catalyst in which an entering gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide and an oxygen-containing gas are contacted with the catalyst,
- a sulfur condenser for removing sulfur produced in the catalytic reaction from the gas stream to generate a gas stream with decreased levels of hydrogen sulfide;
- and
- a outlet for exiting the treated gas stream for release of the gas stream with decreased levels of hydrogen sulfide from the system or for passage of the exiting gas stream with decreased levels of hydrogen sulfide to downstream processing;
- wherein the mixed metal oxide catalyst comprises a low oxidation activity metal oxide and one or more higher oxidation activity metal oxides such that a substantial amount of the hydrogen sulfide present in the gas stream is oxidized to sulfur dioxide, sulfur or a mixture thereof, wherein the entering gas stream contains oxidizable components other than sulfur containing compounds and wherein less than about 25% by volume of the oxidizable components except sulfur containing compounds in the entering gas stream are oxidized by the added oxygen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.