Process for the removal of hydrogen chloride and sulfur oxides from a gas stream by absorption

A process for the removal of hydrogen chloride and/or sulfur oxides from a gas stream which contains primarily some or all of the following compounds:

• methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and water, and which also contains impurities such as siloxanes, hydrogen sulfide, organic and inorganic sulfides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), said gas stream originating from a landfill or an anaerobic digester or another industrial operation producing a similar gas stream, and said process comprising the steps of
• heating the gas,
• optionally passing the hot gas through a siloxane removal bed, where siloxanes are absorbed,
• optionally passing the hot gas through one or more sulfur removal beds, where hydrogen sulfide and/or organic sulfides are absorbed,
• passing the effluent from the said optional absorption beds through a reactor containing an oxidation catalyst,
• said catalyst enabling catalytic oxidation of VOCs, organic and inorganic chlorine- and/or sulfur-containing compounds, COS and CS2 to their respective combustion products, and
• passing the effluent from the reactor through one or more beds, where hydrogen chloride and/or sulfur oxides are absorbed.