Engelhard Corporation

Shinn Hwang

Robert J Farrauto

Lawrence Shore

Jordan K Lampert

A hydrocarbon gas such as methane and LPG is desulfurized in the presence of oxygen and an oxidation catalyst to convert sulfur compounds in the gas to sulfur oxides. The sulfur oxides are then trapped downstream of the oxidation by an adsorbent. The amount of oxygen added to the hydrocarbon gas to promote oxidation is such that the sulfur compounds are selectively oxidized and the oxidation of the hydrocarbon gas is minimized to reduce hydrogen formation.

Method of desulfurizing a hydrocarbon gas by selective partial oxidation and adsorption

Provided is a method of generating a hydrogen-rich reformate from a hydrocarbon feed stream comprising olefins and alkanes (e.g., LPG). An inlet gas stream containing the hydrocarbon feed stream and an oxygen containing gas stream, is preheated to a temperature of from 180 to 300&#xb0; C. The preheated inlet gas stream is then contacted with a sulfur tolerant partial oxidation catalyst to form a pre-reformed gas stream, which is preferably maintained below about 400&#xb0; C. The pre-reformed gas stream is then subjected to a reforming process to form the hydrogen-rich reformate.

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Livingston, NJ, United States of America

Shinn Hwang