Merichem Company

Ari Technologies, Inc.

Air Resources, Inc.

Wheelabrator Clean Air Systems Inc.

Mirichem Company

Merichem Chemicals & Refinery Services LLC

U.S. Filter/gas Technology Products

Gary J Nagl

Myron Reicher

Derek McManus

Leslie C Hardison

Anthony A Barnette

Barry Ferm

Joseph P Eng

An improved process for reduction-oxidation desulphurization uses an oxidizer operating at a pressure greater than the absorber where a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts a sulfur-containing gas feed stream.

High pressure reduction-oxidation desulfurization process

A liquid separator system having a gas phase zone, an aqueous phase zone and a denser liquid zone is used to separate mixtures of fluids. The separator can be used for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet. The interface control structure is adjusted to optimally alter the vertical height of the interface level within the vessel so that the residence time of the molten sulfur in the vessel does not decrease as the sulfur production throughput decreases, and so that the interface area of the molten sulfur and the redox solution is reduced as the sulfur throughput decreases. A pressure controller monitors the pressure in the vessel and adds or removes gas from a gas phase zone in the vessel to maintain a predetermined pressure regardless of the vertical height of the interface.

Three phase sulfur separation method with interface control

Three phase sulfur separation system with interface control

An improved oxidizer for liquid reduction-oxidation desulphurization processes uses a hollow fiber membrane contactor. A pressurized, oxygen containing gas stream is introduced into the interior of the hollow fiber membrane while a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts the exterior of the membrane. Oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution whereby the solution is oxidized and can be recycled for further us in a desulphurization process.

Oxidizer and oxidation process for a desulphurization process

An improved oxidizer for liquid reduction-oxidation desulphurization processes uses a hollow fiber membrane contactor. A pressurized, oxygen containing gas stream is introduced into the interior of the hollow fiber membrane while a liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution contacts the exterior of the membrane. Oxygen diffuses through the membrane into the liquid reduction-oxidation catalyst solution whereby the solution is oxidized and can be recycled for further use in a desulphurization process.

A process is provided for the removal of hydrogen sulfide out of a gas stream by contacting the hydrogen sulfide contaminated gas with a solution of chelated metal catalyst, such as iron EDTA, in a scrubbing vessel so as to result in a cleaned gas and a scrubbing solution containing elemental sulfur and a reduced chelated metal catalyst. A portion of the hydrogen sulfide contaminated feed gas is branched off from the rest of the hydrogen sulfide contaminated feed gas, at a location upstream of the scrubbing vessel, and injected into a bisulfide generating vessel where it is contacted with an aqueous caustic solution, such as an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, wherein the hydrogen sulfide reacts with the caustic solution to result in a cleaned gas and a solution containing bisulfide ions. The solution containing bisulfide ions and the scrubbing solution containing elemental sulfur and reduced chelated metal catalyst are both injected into an oxidation vessel where they are contacted with an oxygen containing gas which oxidizes the reduced chelated metal catalyst back into its reactive oxidation state and also oxidizes the bisulfide ions into thiosulfate ions. The regenerated scrubbing solution containing reactive chelated metal catalyst and thiosulfate ions are recycled back to the scrubbing vessel for further contact with the hydrogen sulfide containing gas. The thiosulfate ions protect the chelated metal catalyst from degradation.

Method for continuously producing thiosulfate ions

A liquid separator system for separating molten sulfur from liquid redox solution or reslurry water. The system includes a vessel with a top part and a bottom part. The vessel has a larger diameter at the top part than at the bottom part, and the cross section of the vessel downwardly decreases from the top part to the bottom part of the vessel. The system also includes an inlet for introducing a redox solution or reslurry water and molten sulfur, which is denser than redox solution or reslurry water, into the vessel. An outlet near the bottom part of the vessel allows a flow of the molten sulfur from the vessel. An interface control structure senses an interface level between the redox solution or reslurry water and the molten sulfur, and the interface control structure controls the flow of molten sulfur from the outlet. The interface control structure is adjusted to optimally alter the vertical height of the interface level within the vessel so that the residence time of the molten sulfur in the vessel does not decrease as the sulfur production throughput decreases, and so that the interface area of the molten sulfur and the redox solution is reduced as the sulfur throughput decreases.

Sulfur separation system with interface control

A packed mass transfer tower for establishing intimate gas/liquid contact and efficient mass transfer that is less susceptible to gas or liquid channeling, gas surging and uneven distribution of gas or liquid across the cross-sectional area of the tower. The packed tower includes a packing arrangement including a lower bed of mobile packing elements, and an adjacent upper bed of fixed packing elements. The packed bed of fixed packing elements acts as a gas distributor, as well as causing good gas/liquid contact, to provide an even flow of gas across essentially the entire cross-sectional area of the packed bed of mobile packing elements.

Multi-bed mass transfer column with mobile packing

Method and apparatus for recovering sulfur from an aqueous slurry. The slurry is passed downwardly through a shell-and-tube heat exchanger having vertically arranged tubes, wherein it is heated sufficiently to melt the sulfur. The liquid mixture leaving the heat exchanger is discharged into a first separation zone, in which a phase separation between the lighter aqueous phase and the denser liquid sulfur occurs. The upper aqueous phase is then transported to an intermediate point in the height of a vertically elongated second separation zone, while the molten sulfur is transported from the lower end of the first separation zone to a point adjacent the lower end of said second separation zone, in which an interface between the phases is maintained at a point below the entry point of the aqueous liquid phase into the second separation zone. The aqueous liquid is discharged from the top of the second separation zone, while molten sulfur is discharged from the bottom of said zone.

Method and apparatus for melting and recovering sulfur in aqueous

Reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions from thermal incinerators is accomplished in installations for calcining solid carbonaceous materials such as petroleum coke and anthracite coal. A hot effluent gas stream containing hydrocarbon vapors and entrained carbonaceous solid particles is removed from the calciner, and means are provided to effect preliminary combustion of the hydrocarbon vapors but not the carbonaceous solid particles in the gas stream using substantially the stoichiometric amount of combustion air. The resultant gas that is substantially free of hydrocarbons and oxygen is introduced into the thermal incinerator, and combustion of the carbonaceous solid particles is effected with additional combustion air.

Reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions from calciners

A bed of spent solid adsorbent material previously used for removal of mixed solvent vapors from an air stream is steam stripped; the mixture of steam and vaporized solvent is passed through a condenser; and the resultant liquid condensate is passed to a decanter where the condensate separates into an upper layer of water insoluble solvent components and a bottom layer of water containing the water soluble solvent components. The upper layer is withdrawn for reuse, and the decanter bottoms stream is passed through another bed of solid adsorbent material which removes the organic solvent so as to produce substantially pure water suitable for discharge or reuse. After a period of use this adsorbent bed is also regenerated by steam stripping, and the effluent steam and solvent vapors are recycled to the same condenser serving the air treating adsorbent bed so that a combined condensate is passed to the decanter.

Growing community of inventors

Deer Park, IL, United States of America

Gary J Nagl