Johnson Matthey Inc.

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.

Gordon Edward Wilson

Norman Macleod

Avelino Corma Canos

Antonio Chica Lara

Yonhy Saavedra Lopez

Peter Edward James Abbott

Ruth Ann Davis

Elaine Margaret Vass

Gavin Potter

Ruth A Davis

A process for reducing the thiophene content in a synthesis gas mixture, comprises the steps of (i) passing a synthesis gas mixture comprising hydrogen and carbon oxides and containing thiophene over a copper-containing sorbent disposed in a sorbent vessel at an inlet temperature in the range 200-280&#xb0; C., (ii) withdrawing a thiophene depleted synthesis gas containing methanol from the sorbent vessel, and (iii) adjusting the temperature of the methanol-containing thiophene-depleted synthesis gas mixture. The resulting gas mixture may be used for production of chemicals, e.g. methanol production or for the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of liquid hydrocarbons, for hydrogen production by using water gas shift, or for the production of synthetic natural gas.

Process for generating a synthetic natural gas

A process for desulphurizing hydrocarbons includes passing a mixture of hydrocarbon and hydrogen over a hydrodesulphurization catalyst to convert organosulphur compounds present in the hydrocarbon to hydrogen sulphide, passing the resulting mixture over a hydrogen sulphide sorbent including zinc oxide to reduce the hydrogen sulphide content of the mixture, and passing the hydrogen sulphide-depleted mixture over a further desulphurization material. The further desulphurization material includes one or more nickel compounds, a zinc oxide support material, and optionally one or more promoter metal compounds of iron, cobalt, copper and precious metals. The desulphurization material has a nickel content in the range 0.3 to 20% by weight and a promoter metal compound content in the range 0 to 10% by weight.

Desulphurisation process

A process for hydrogenating olefins is disclosed. The olefins are present in a feed gas which includes Hand one or more sulfur compounds. The sulfur compounds may include HS and organic sulfur compounds. The feed gas is passed through a reactor at an inlet temperature from 100&#xb0; C. to 250&#xb0; C. The reactor contains a catalyst which is active at the inlet temperature. The reactor may be adiabatic. Saturated hydrocarbons are formed from the olefins. A temperature gradient may be formed in the reactor due to the exothermic nature of the hydrogenation reaction, causing the temperature to increase downstream in the reactor. At temperatures higher than the inlet temperature, HS may be formed from organic sulfur compounds. A gas mixture including saturated hydrocarbons, HS and Hexits the reactor and may be brought into contact with a chemical adsorbent which removes the HS. The gas stream may then be passed to a steam methane reformer.

Process for hydrogenating olefins

A particulate desulfurization material includes one or more nickel compounds, a zinc oxide support material, and one or more alkali metal compounds wherein the nickel content of the material is in the range 0.3 to 10% by weight and the alkali metal content of the material is in the range 0.2 to 10% by weight. A method of making the desulfurization material includes the steps: The desulfurization material may be used to desulfurize hydrocarbon gas streams with reduced levels of hydrocarbon hydrogenolysis.

Desulfurization materials

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Stockton-on-Tees, United Kingdom

Gordon Edward Wilson