Fluid bed desulfurization

In a method for desulfurizing a sulfide-containing feed gas and regenerating a sulfided sorbent wherein the feed gas is contacted with a particulated metallic zinc oxide-based sorbent in a transport absorber riser to form an effluent gas of reduced sulfide content having suspended therein particulated, partially sulfided sorbent;

• the effluent gas and partially sulfided sorbent are separated to form a product gas stream substantially free of the sorbent;
• the separated sorbent is regenerated by contacting the sorbent with an oxygen-containing gas in a transport regenerator to form a sulfur dioxide-containing regeneration offgas having suspended therein regenerated sorbent;
• the regeneration offgas and regenerated sorbent are separated to form an offgas stream essentially free of the regenerated sorbent;
• and the regenerated sorbent is recycled to the transport absorber riser, the improvement which comprises:
• separating the particulated, partially sulfided sorbent removed from the effluent gas into a primary portion and a secondary portion, the secondary portion of partially sulfided sorbent comprising an amount which, when contacted with the oxygen-containing gas in the transport regenerator, results in a reaction exotherm insufficient to produce a temperature in the transport regenerator in excess of a maximum temperature of less than about 700.degree. C.;
• regenerating the secondary portion of partially sulfided sorbent by contacting the sorbent with the oxygen-containing gas in the transport regenerator maintained at the maximum temperature of less than about 700.degree. C. in a single pass;
• combining the regenerated sorbent with the primary portion of partially sulfided sorbent;
• and
• recycling the combined regenerated sorbent and partially sulfided sorbent to the transport absorber.