Method for improving reducing potential of natural gas feed
AssigneeGas Research Institute
InventorsMark A. Paisley, Kenneth D. Pugsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A means to increase the reducing potential of natural gas used in the reduction of sulfates such as gypsum. A reducing mixture of natural gas and air (or oxygen) is heated prior to reduction of the sulfate. For gypsum reduction, heating the reducing mixture to 1500.degree. F. (816.degree. C.) prior to gypsum reduction increased the gypsum conversion to calcium sulfide to above 65% at a reactor temperature of 1400.degree.-1500.degree. F. (700.degree.-816.degree. C.) verses less than a 40% conversion rate when an unheated reducing mixture was used.
Claims11
A process for improving the reducing potential of natural gas used in the reduction of sulfate comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing natural gas and an oxygen provider in portions so as to form a reducing mixture consisting essentially of said natural gas and said oxygen provider,
- b) heating said reducing mixture to a temperature of about 1400.degree.-1600.degree. F. so as to increase the reactivity of said mixture prior to contact with said sulfate, and
- c) reducing said sulfate to sulfide with said reducing mixture previously heated to said temperature of about 1400.degree.-1600.degree. F.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.