Institut Francais Du Pe'trole

David Smith

Claude Dezael

David Benayoun

A process and an apparatus are described for treatment of a gas containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide, for example a Claus plant tail gas, in which the gas is brought into contact with an organic solvent ( ) e.g. polyethylene glycol , containing a catalyst e.g. sodium salicylate, in at least one gas-liquid reactor-contactor ( ) and a gas ( ) substantially no longer containing hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide is recovered. A single-phase solution ( ) of solvent and sulphur is extracted from the reactor-contactor and a portion is cooled in at least one cooling zone ( ) to obtain a suspension of sulphur crystals in the solvent, the crystallised sulphur is separated from the solvent in a separation zone ( ), the sulphur-depleted solvent ( ) is recovered and recycled at least in part to the reactor-contactor ( ), and the sulphur ( ) is recovered.

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Vernouillet, France

David Smith