# US 9,518,239 B2 · Process for removing sulfur compounds from natural gas streams

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- Number: US 9,518,239 B2
- Document ID: US9518239B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/445,502
- Filed: 2014-07-29
- Published: 2016-02-04
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-07-29
- Assignees: Uop LLC
- Applicants: Uop LLC
- Inventors: Shain-Jer Doong; Jayant Kumar Gorawara; Lubo Zhou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518239B2

## CPC

- C10L 3/103: {Sulfur containing contaminants}
- B01D 53/04: with stationary adsorbents {(B01D53/025 takes precedence)}
- B01D 53/1437: {Pretreatment by adsorption}
- B01D 53/1462: {Removing mixtures of hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide}
- B01D 53/48: Sulfur compounds
- B01D 53/75: Multi-step processes
- C10L 3/104: {Carbon dioxide}
- B01D 53/64: Heavy metals or compounds thereof, e.g. mercury
- B01D 2252/204: Amines
- B01D 2253/102: Carbon
- B01D 2253/108: Zeolites
- B01D 2253/1124: Metal oxides
- B01D 2253/202: Polymeric adsorbents
- B01D 2253/204: Metal organic frameworks (MOF's)
- B01D 2255/2045: Calcium
- B01D 2255/2047: Magnesium
- B01D 2255/20738: Iron
- B01D 2255/20753: Nickel
- B01D 2255/20761: Copper
- B01D 2255/20792: Zinc
- B01D 2256/24: Hydrocarbons
- B01D 2256/245: Methane
- B01D 2257/104: Oxygen
- B01D 2257/30: Sulfur compounds
- B01D 2257/304: Hydrogen sulfide
- B01D 2257/306: Organic sulfur compounds, e.g. mercaptans
- B01D 2257/308: Carbonoxysulfide COS
- B01D 2257/504: Carbon dioxide
- B01D 2257/602: Mercury or mercury compounds
- B01D 2257/7022: Aliphatic hydrocarbons
- B01D 2257/80: Water
- B01D 2259/40054: treated before its reuse
- B01D 2259/40083: Regeneration of adsorbents in processes other than pressure or temperature swing adsorption
- B01D 2259/40086: by using a purge gas (B01D2259/4009 takes precedence)
- B01D 2259/4009: using hot gas
- B01D 2259/402: using two beds
- C10L 2290/08: Drying or removing water
- C10L 2290/10: Recycling of a stream within the process or apparatus to reuse elsewhere therein
- C10L 2290/12: Regeneration of a solvent, catalyst, adsorbent or any other component used to treat or prepare a fuel
- C10L 2290/542: Adsorption of impurities during preparation or upgrading of a fuel
- Y02C 20/40: of CO2
- C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- Y02C: CAPTURE, STORAGE, SEQUESTRATION OR DISPOSAL OF GREENHOUSE GASES [GHG]

## Abstract

A process for the removal of sulfur compounds from a feed stream. A first separation zone removes sulfur compounds and produces a partially cleaned stream. A first adsorption zone adsorbs the remaining organic sulfur compounds on a regenerable adsorbent a produces a treated gas stream. A portion of the treated gas stream may regenerate the adsorbent in the first adsorption zone by removing organic sulfur compounds. The organic sulfur compound rich stream can be passed to a non-regenerable adsorption zone. The non-regenerable adsorption zone will separate out the organic sulfur compounds and provide a re-treated gas stream which may be recycled to a portion of the process. The non-regenerable adsorption zone may include regenerable adsorbent, but the zone is not operated to regenerate the adsorbent while it is in the non-regenerable adsorption zone.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the treatment of a natural gas feed stream comprising:
passing a natural gas feed stream to a separation zone to separate carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from the natural gas feed stream to provide an at least partially cleaned stream;
passing the at least partially cleaned stream to a first adsorption zone to separate organic sulfur compounds and provide a treated gas stream, wherein the first adsorption zone comprises one or more beds with a regenerable adsorbent;
regenerating the regenerable adsorbent of the first adsorption zone with a portion of the treated gas stream to provide an organic sulfur rich stream; and,
passing the organic sulfur rich stream to a second adsorption zone to separate organic sulfur compounds and provide a re-treated gas stream.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the second adsorption zone comprises a non-regenerable adsorption zone.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The process of claim 2, wherein the non-regenerable adsorption zone comprises one or more beds with a regenerable adsorbent and the non-regenerable adsorption zone is operated in a non-regenerable manner.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
passing the re-treated gas stream to the separation zone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
passing the re-treated gas stream to the first adsorption zone.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
dehydrating the organic sulfur rich stream in a dehydration zone prior to passing the organic sulfur rich stream to the second adsorption zone.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
passing the portion of the treated gas stream used to regenerate to a de-oxygenation zone to provide an oxygen lean stream.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The process of claim 7 further comprising:
passing the oxygen lean stream to a dehydration zone before passing the oxygen lean stream to the first adsorption zone.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 further comprising:
regenerating the regenerable adsorbent of the first adsorption zone with at least a portion of the re-treated gas stream.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1, wherein the second adsorption zone comprises a metal oxide adsorbent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The process of claim 10 further comprising:
disposing of the metal oxide adsorbent.

### Claim 12

A process for the treatment of a natural gas feed stream comprising:
passing a natural gas feed stream to a first separation zone to separate hydrogen sulfide from the natural gas feed stream to provide an at least partially cleaned stream;
passing the at least partially cleaned stream to a first adsorption zone to separate organic sulfur compounds and provide a treated gas stream, wherein the first adsorption zone comprises one or more beds with a regenerable adsorbent;
recovering organic sulfur compounds from the first adsorption zone with a portion of the treated gas stream in an organic sulfur rich stream;
passing the organic sulfur rich stream to a second adsorption zone to separate organic sulfur compounds and provide a re-treated gas stream; and,
recycling the re-treated gas stream to a processing zone.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, wherein the re-treated gas stream is recycled back to the first separation zone.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process of claim 13 further comprising:
increasing a pressure of the re-treated gas stream before the re-treated gas stream is recycled to the first separation zone.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, wherein the re-treated gas stream is recycled back to the first adsorption zone.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 further comprising:
dehydrating the organic sulfur rich stream in a dehydration zone prior to passing the organic sulfur rich stream to the second adsorption zone.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12 further comprising:
regenerating the regenerable adsorbent of the first adsorption zone with at least a portion of the re-treated gas stream.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, wherein the second adsorption zone comprises a metal oxide adsorbent.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The process of claim 18 further comprising:
disposing of the metal oxide adsorbent.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The process of claim 12, wherein the second adsorption zone comprises one or more beds with a regenerable adsorbent and the second adsorption zone is operated in a non-regenerable manner.