The Dow Chemical Company

John D Myers

Stephen A Bedell

Gaines C Jeffrey

H.sub.2 S is removed from a fluid stream by contacting the stream with an aqueous solution having at least two components: an effective amount of an iron (III) chelate to oxidize H.sub.2 S to sulfur and, an amount of a water soluble anionic polymer containing sulfonic acid groups, carboxyl groups or mixtures thereof which is effective to stabilize the chelate. During the removal process the iron chelate is reduced to iron(II) chelate, and sulfur particles are produced.

Removal of hydrogen sulfide from fluid streams

A method of removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream in a contact zone by contacting the gaseous stream with an aqueous alkaline scrubbing solution containing a polyvalent metal chelate at a pH of about 7 to about 10 wherein the polyvalent metal chelate is in one embodiment all or substantially all in the reduced or lower valence state in a contact zone and is oxidized to the oxidized or higher valence state in an oxidation zone so as to convert hydrosulfide and/or sulfide salts present in the contact zone to sulfur. In a second embodiment the aqueous alkaline solution contacting the gaseous stream is a mixture containing higher and lower valence polyvalent metal chelates.

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Clute, TX, United States of America

John D Myers