Method and apparatus for enriching the iron carbonyl content of a recycle gas stream

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enriching the iron carbonyl content of a recycle gas stream produced in an iron carbonyl decomposition or reaction process to enable reuse of the recycle gas stream in the iron carbonyl decomposition or reaction process by cooling the recycle gas stream, adding carbon monoxide to the recycle gas stream, compressing the recycle gas stream to a pressure of about 20 to about 38 atmospheres under conditions suitable to prevent substantial decomposition of residual iron carbonyl, and contacting the compressed gas stream at a temperature of about 65 to about 160.degree. C. with a reduced iron containing material in the presence of hydrogen sulfide under conditions suitable to produce substantially condensed iron carbonyl. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the recycle gas stream is initially split into first and second portions, the first portion of the recycle gas stream is cooled, enriched with carbon monoxide, compressed and contacted with the reduced iron containing material to produce substantially condensed iron carbonyl, and at least a portion of the condensed iron carbonyl is vaporized and then combined with the second portion of the recycle gas stream to produce an iron carbonyl enriched gas stream. The iron carbonyl enriched gas stream may then be reintroduced into the iron carbonyl decomposition or reaction process.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.