Ethyleneamines for regenerating adsorbent beds for sulfur compound removal

A process for regenerating an adsorbent bed comprising adsorbed sulfur compounds, the process comprising:

• contacting the adsorbent bed with a regeneration solvent comprising one or more ethyleneamines selected from the group of ethyleneamines consisting of structure (I), (II), or (III):
• where R1, R2, R5 and R6 are, to the extent chemically possible, independently H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC═O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group is independently H or C1 alkyl, where R3 and R4 are alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where x ranges from 0 to 3, y ranges from 1 to 6;
• and
• extracting adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent bed, wherein the adsorbent bed contains at least 5 grams of adsorbent material;
• where the amount of regeneration solvent is at least 10 milliliters of the regeneration solvent per 5 grams of adsorbent material in the adsorbent bed, and
• where the adsorbed sulfur compounds are selected from a group consisting of hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, carbonyl sulfide, carbon disulfide, and combinations thereof

A process for regenerating an adsorbent bed comprising adsorbed sulfur compounds, the process comprising:

• contacting the adsorbent bed with an effective amount of regeneration solvent, where the generation solvent comprises:
• from about 25 to about 100 wt % of one or more ethyleneamine selected from the group of ethyleneamines consisting of structure (I), (II), or (III):
• where R1, R2, R5 and R6 are, to the extent chemically possible, independently H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC═O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group is independently H or C1 alkyl, where R3 and R4 are alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where x ranges from 0 to 3, y ranges from 1 to 6, and
• a carrier fluid selected from the group consisting of water, an alcohol, a glycol, an amide, an ester, an amine different from the ethyleneamine, a quaternary ammonium compound, and combinations thereof;
• and
• extracting adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent bed, wherein the adsorbent bed contains at least 5 grams of adsorbent material, where the adsorbent material in the adsorbent bed is selected from a group consisting of activated carbon, clay, a basic resin, and combinations thereof.