Apparatus and Process for Removal of Carbon Monoxide

Abstract

One exemplary embodiment can be a process for lowering an amount of carbon monoxide in a stream rich in hydrogen. The process can include passing the stream rich in hydrogen through a carbon monoxide removal zone to produce a product stream having no more than about 10 vppm carbon monoxide and communicating the product stream to a reduction zone receiving a catalyst comprising unreduced metal species.

1 . A reforming and continuous catalyst regeneration and reduction system, comprising:
 a) a regenerated catalyst reduction zone equipped to continuously receive and reduce regenerated catalyst;   b) a carbon monoxide removal zone in communication with the regenerated catalyst reduction zone to provide a reduction stream comprising at least about 5%, by mole, hydrogen and comprising no more than about 10 vppm carbon monoxide from the carbon monoxide removal zone to the regenerated catalyst reduction zone;   c) a reforming reaction zone also in communication with the reduction zone to receive a regenerated and reduced catalyst; and   d) a regeneration zone in communication with the reforming reaction zone to receive a spent catalyst.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the carbon monoxide removal zone comprises a clinoptilolite adsorption zone or a methanation zone. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the clinoptilolite adsorption zone comprises an ion-exchanged clinoptilolite zeolite. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the methanation zone comprises a catalyst, in turn, comprising nickel, cobalt, or ruthenium.