Linde Aktiengesellschaft

Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft

Emil Alunic

Gerhard Grunewald

Two absorbent solution streams which come from different gas-scrubbing zones and have absorbed carbon dioxide and at least one of the valuable gases carbon monoxide, hydrogen or methane by physical dissolution under pressures from 10 to 100 bars are treated for a recovery of the valuable gases. For that purpose the first absorbent solution stream is pressure-relieved into a first pressure-relief zone with a pressure reduction by at least 5 bars so that a high-CO.sub.2 gas is flashed off. The second absorbent solution stream is partly pressure-relieved into a second pressure-relief zone, which contains exchange-promoting elements. The flashed-off gas from the first pressure relief zone is passed upwardly through the second pressure relief zone in a countercurrent to the second absorbent solution stream. A gas mixture containing CO.sub.2 and at least one valuable gas is withdrawn at the top of the second pressure relief zone. The two scrubbing solution streams which have left the pressure-relief zones are then regenerated. The second absorbent solution stream which has left the second pressure relief zone is preferably fed to the first pressure relief zone.

Process for treating scrubbing solutions

Two different gases, which contain sulfur compounds and Co.sub.2, are desulfurized with a physically acting solvent. The first gas is treated with the solvent in a first scrubbing zone, in which the sulfur compounds, particularly H.sub.2 S and COS, are substantially completely removed and part of the Co.sub.2 content in the gas is dissolved. At least part of the laden solvent leaving the first scrubbing zone is fed to a second scrubbing zone, which is supplied with the second gas, which has a lower CO.sub.2 content than the first gas. The second gas is partly desulfurized in the second scrubbing zone and in a third scrubbing zone is subsequently treated with a solvent which is virtually free of sulfur compounds. The laden solvent leaving the third scrubbing zone is preferably fed to the second scrubbing zone.

Growing community of inventors

Kronberg, Germany

Emil Alunic