# US 2014/0155671 A1 · System and method for catalyst regeneration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155671 A1 - Document ID: US20140155671A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/113,366 - Filed: 2012-04-17 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-18 - Assignees: M-I L.L.C. - Applicants: M-I L.L.C. - Inventors: Ryan Larsen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155671A1 ## CPC - C07C 7/14858: {with inorganic compounds not provided for before (acids, sulfur oxides C07C7/17)} - B01J 23/92: of catalysts comprising metals, oxides or hydroxides provided for in groups B01J23/02 - B01J23/36 - B01J 23/94: of catalysts comprising metals, oxides or hydroxides of the iron group metals or copper - B01J 23/96: of catalysts comprising metals, oxides or hydroxides of the noble metals - B01J 38/06: using steam - B01J 38/16: Oxidation gas comprising essentially steam and oxygen - C01B 17/0465: {Catalyst compositions} - B01J 38/04: Gas or vapour treating; Treating by using liquids vaporisable upon contacting spent catalyst - Y02P 20/584: Recycling of catalysts - C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS - B01J: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS - C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C} - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract The various embodiments relate to a system and method for regenerating a direct oxidation catalyst that coverts H2S to elemental S. One embodiment of the method comprises regenerating a direct oxidation catalyst by contacting the direct oxidation catalyst with steam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of regenerating a direct oxidation catalyst, the method comprising: contacting the direct oxidation catalyst with steam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst comprises at least one of titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process of claim 2 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst further comprises a promoter metal oxide selected from a group consisting of oxides of Mn, Co, Cu, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Hf, Ta, W, Au, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst was fouled by exposure to hydrocarbons and sulfur-containing compounds. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst is contacted with steam at a temperature greater than 200° C. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst is contacted with steam at a temperature greater than 310° C. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 wherein the direct oxidation catalyst is contacted with steam at a temperature between about 300° C. and about 400° C. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising adding oxygen to the steam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process of claim 1 further comprising flowing an inert gas across the catalyst after contacting the catalyst with steam. ### Claim 10 A process for treating a gas stream, the process comprising: contacting a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and at least one hydrocarbon component with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a direct oxidation catalyst; and contacting the direct oxidation catalyst with steam to regenerate the direct oxidation catalyst. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein in the step of contacting the direct oxidation catalyst with steam comprises: contacting the direct oxidation catalyst with mixture comprising steam and oxygen. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 further comprising: monitoring the amount of sulfur dioxide generated by contacting the gas stream with the direct oxidation catalyst; and regenerating the direct oxidation catalyst when the amount of sulfur dioxide reaches a predetermined limit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The process of claim 10 wherein the gas stream is contacted with the oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a direct oxidation catalyst in at least one first reactor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 wherein the method further comprises: diverting the gas stream to at least one second reactor comprising the direct oxidation catalyst before regenerating the direct oxidation catalyst in the first reactor; and contacting gas stream with the oxygen-containing gas and the direct oxidation catalyst in the second reactor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The process of claim 13 further comprising converting carbonyl sulfide in the gas stream to hydrogen sulfide in at least one first carbonyl sulfide reactor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The process of claim 15 further comprising contacting the gas stream with oxygen in the presence of the direct oxidation catalyst after the gas stream exits the carbonyl sulfide reactor. ### Claim 17 A system for treating a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the system comprising: at least one first direct oxidation reactor in fluid communication with the gas stream, the first direct oxidation reactor comprising a direct oxidation catalyst; and a steam source in fluid communication with the first direct oxidation reactor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 further comprising an inert gas source in fluid communication with the first direct oxidation reactor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 further comprising: at least one second direct oxidation reactor in fluid communication with the gas stream; and a piping system in fluid communication with the gas stream, the first direct oxidation reactor and the second direct oxidation reactor, wherein the piping system is capable of diverting the gas stream to the first direct oxidation reactors or the second direct oxidation reactor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17 further comprising at least one carbonyl sulfide reactor in fluid communication with the first direct oxidation reactor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20 wherein the carbonyl sulfide reactor receives the gas stream from the first direct oxidation reactor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21 further comprising at least one subsequent direct oxidation reactor receiving the gas stream from the carbonyl sulfide reactor.