# US 2010/0163401 A1 · Sulfur degassing process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0163401 A1 - Document ID: US20100163401A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/346,347 - Filed: 2008-12-30 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-30 - Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company - Inventors: Alfred E. Keller; Nathan A. Hatcher; Sriram Ramani; Terry D. Pruitt; Michael D. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163401A1 ## CPC - B01D 1/28: with vapour compression - B01D 1/289: {Compressor features (e.g. constructions, details, cooling, lubrication, driving systems)} - B01D 1/2893: {Driving systems} - B01D 5/006: {with evaporation or distillation} - C01B 17/0232: {Purification, e.g. degassing} - C01B 17/167: {Separation} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} ## Abstract A process is disclosed for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur including: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of the liquid sulfur feed in the vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing the first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein the liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than the liquid sulfur feed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for removing hydrogen sulfide from liquid sulfur comprising: passing a liquid sulfur feed comprising liquid sulfur and hydrogen sulfide to a vaporizer; vaporizing at least a portion of said liquid sulfur feed in said vaporizer to thereby form a first vapor stream comprising gaseous sulfur and gaseous hydrogen sulfide; partially condensing said first vapor stream in a condenser to form a liquid product stream comprising liquid sulfur and a second vapor stream comprising hydrogen sulfide; wherein said liquid product stream has a lower concentration of hydrogen sulfide than said liquid sulfur feed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is vaporized at a pressure below atmospheric. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid product stream is less than about 50 wt. % of the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid sulfur feed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid product stream is less than about 20 wt. % of the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid sulfur feed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid product stream is less than about 10 wt. % of the hydrogen sulfide concentration in said liquid sulfur feed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein: an eductor is connected in fluid flow communication with said vaporizer and with said condenser; steam is passed through said eductor; said first vapor stream is educted from said vaporizer into said steam passing through said eductor, thereby resulting in a pressure below atmospheric in said vaporizer and a lower hydrogen sulfide partial pressure; and said first vapor stream and said steam are passed to said condenser. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is heated in said vaporizer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is vaporized at a pressure below about 3.0 psia and at a temperature between about 450° F. to about 1000° F.; and wherein said first vapor stream is condensed at a temperature between about 250° F. and about 310° F. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is vaporized at a pressure below about 0.6 psia and at a temperature between about 600° F. to about 950° F.; and wherein said first vapor stream is condensed at a temperature between about 260° F. and about 300° F. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of the combination of said first vapor stream and said steam leaving said eductor is less than 80% of the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of said first vapor stream leaving said vaporizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of the combination of said first vapor stream and said steam leaving said eductor is less than 60% of the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of said first vapor stream leaving said vaporizer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The process of claim 6 wherein the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of the combination of said first vapor stream and said steam leaving said eductor is less than 40% of the hydrogen sulfide partial pressure of said first vapor stream leaving said vaporizer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein; an eductor is connected in fluid flow communication with said condenser; steam is passed through said eductor; said second vapor stream is educted from said condenser into said steam passing through said eductor, thereby resulting in pressures below atmospheric in said vaporizer and in said condenser. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is heated in said vaporizer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is vaporized at a pressure below about 3.0 psia and at a temperature ranging between about 450° F. to about 1000° F.; and wherein said first vapor stream is condensed at a temperature between about 250° F. and about 31 0° F. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein said liquid sulfur feed is vaporized at a pressure below about 0.6 psia; and at a temperature ranging between about 600° F. to about 950° F.; and wherein said first vapor stream is condensed at a temperature between about 260° F. and about 300° F.