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Bethlehem Steel Corporation

Mehmet O Tarhan

Daniel Kwasnoski

Joseph A Laslo

Charles W Sheldrake

A method and apparatus for selectively removing a desired gaseous component from a gas stream containing at least two gaseous components and having a variable flow rate. The absorber is divided into at least two individual absorption volumes connected in series in which the gas and absorbent solution can countercurrently contact each other and includes means to control the passage of the fluid streams through the individual absorption volumes.

Selective removal of a gaseous component from a multi-component gas

Hydrogen sulfide is substantially completely removed from a sulfur bearing industrial gas stream by absorbing the H.sub.2 S into a liquid absorbent, stripping the absorbent of absorbed H.sub.2 S and reacting it with SO.sub.2 in a ratio of H.sub.2 S/SO.sub.2 greater than the stoichiometric ratio of 2.0:1.0 to produce elemental sulfur and water, leaving a tail gas containing an excess of hydrogen sulfide but no sulfur dioxide. At least the last stage of the reaction is carried out in a liquid reaction medium at a temperature not greater than 160.degree. C. The excess H.sub.2 S assures complete reduction at these temperatures of all SO.sub.2 to elemental sulfur. The remaining excess H.sub.2 S is then recycled in the tail gas back into the original industrial gas stream prior to the point of contact of the industrial gas stream with the liquid absorbing solution.

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Bethlehem, PA, United States of America

Mehmet O Tarhan