Apparatus for recovering sulfur from H2S and concurrent production of H2

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for treating a stream containing H 2 S are disclosed. A preferred method comprises mixing the stream containing H 2 S with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst for less than about 10000 microseconds while simultaneously raising the temperature of the stream sufficiently to allow oxidation of the H 2 S and partial oxidation of the light hydrocarbon to produce a product stream containing elemental sulfur, CO and hydrogen, and cooling the product stream sufficiently to condense at least a portion of the elemental sulfur and produce a tail gas. A preferred method further includes the step of processing the tail gas so as to react CO in the tail gas with water to produce CO 2 and hydrogen and so as to convert elemental sulfur, SO 2 , COS, and CS 2 in the tail gas into H 2 S, the step of contacting the tail gas with an alkanolamine absorber to produce a treated tail gas, and the step of producing H 2 from the treated tail gas.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a stream containing H 2 S, comprising mixing the stream containing H 2 S with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst and raising the temperature of the stream sufficiently to allow oxidation of the H 2 S and partial oxidation of the light hydrocarbon to produce a product stream containing elemental sulfur, CO, and hydrogen, cooling the product stream sufficiently to condense at least a portion of the elemental sulfur and produce a tail gas.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising processing the tail gas so as to react CO in the tail gas with water to produce CO 2  and hydrogen.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising processing the tail gas so as to convert elemental sulfur, SO 2 , COS, CS 2  in the tail gas into H 2 S.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising contacting the tail gas with an alkanolamine absorber to produce a treated tail gas.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising recovering H 2  from the treated tail gas.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4  comprising recovering H 2 S from the alkanolamine absorber.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein contacting the feed stream with a catalyst and raising the temperature of the stream is accomplished in less than about 10,000 microseconds.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein contacting the feed stream with a catalyst and raising the temperature of the stream is carried out essentially adiabatically.  
     
     
         9 . A method for treating a stream containing H 2 S, comprising mixing the stream containing H 2 S with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream, contacting the feed stream with a catalyst for less than about 10,000 microseconds and simultaneously raising the temperature of the stream sufficiently to allow oxidation of the H 2 S and partial oxidation of the light hydrocarbon to produce a product stream containing elemental sulfur, CO, and hydrogen, cooling the product stream sufficiently to condense at least a portion of the elemental sulfur and to produce a tail gas.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising processing the tail gas to react CO and water in the tail gas to produce CO 2  and hydrogen.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising processing the tail gas to convert elemental sulfur, SO 2 , COS, and CS 2  in the tail gas into H 2 S.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  further comprising contacting the tail gas with an alkanolamine absorber to produce a treated tail gas.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising recovering H 2  from the treated tail gas.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising recovering H 2 S from the alkanolamine absorber.  
     
     
         15 . A system for treating a stream containing H 2 S, comprising a mixing zone in (which the H 2 S—containing stream is mixed with a light hydrocarbon stream and an oxygen containing stream to form a feed stream, a reaction zone in which the feed stream is contacted with a catalyst to form elemental sulfur from the H 2 S and to form carbon monoxide from the light hydrocarbon, and a cooling zone in which the elemental sulfur is condensed.  
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  comprising a radiation/thermal barrier between the mixing zone and the reaction zone.  
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the reaction zone includes a hot catalyst surface.  
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the reaction zone includes a hot catalyst surface comprising a catalyst comprising one or more layers of wire gauze.  
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein said reaction zone comprises a hot catalyst surface comprising a catalyst supported on a porous ceramic.  
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15  further comprising a tail gas treatment unit.  
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 15  further comprising a tail gas treatment unit comprising a second catalyst.  
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 15  further comprising a tail gas treatment unit comprising an alkanolamine absorber.