Bechtel Group, Inc.

Robert Geosits

Charles R Brown

Charles L Kimtantas

The present invention provides a method for removing sulfur species from a gas stream without the use of a sulfur species removal process, such as an amine scrub. The sulfur species are removed by directly subjecting the gas stream to a sulfur recovery process, such as a Claus or sub-dewpoint Claus process at high pressure and moderate temperatures, wherein the sulfur recovery process comprises a catalyst which does not comprise activated carbon.

Direct sulfur recovery system

A high pressure synthetic gas stream is produced by gasifying coal. Hydrogen sulfide is removed by contacting the high pressure gas stream with a physical solvent, such as an alcohol, in an absorber column. A low temperature is maintained in the absorber column, typically by chilling both the solvent and the incoming high pressure synthetic gas stream, where a portion of the cooling requirement is supplied by adiabatically expanding the cleaned high pressure gas stream exiting the absorber. Typically, the cleaned high pressure gas stream will be expanded in a turbine expander to provide mechanical energy in addition to cooling capacity. The cleaned synthetic gas is useful as a fuel or chemical feedstock.

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N. Potomac, MD, United States of America

Robert Geosits