The M.w. Kellogg Company

William M Campbell

Gunnar B Henningsen

A method and apparatus for desulfurizing a gas and regenerating a sorbent is disclosed. The sulfur-containing feed gas which can be an effluent gas from a coal gasification reactor, for example, is desulfurized with a particulated metallic oxide sorbent in a transport riser. The sulfided sorbent is than separated from a desulfurized effluent gas and regenerated by contact with an oxygen-containing gas in a transport riser. The regenerated sorbent is separated from an SO.sub.2 containing offgas and recycled to the desulfurization step. The degree of sorbent conversion in the desulfurization step is held at a low level and the sorbent regeneration rate is increased to avoid excessive temperature rise in the regeneration step. In such manner, sorbent cooling can be substantially eliminated. The regeneration riser preferably comprises a once-through lift riser to minimize the riser transport gas requirements to just oxidant gas or oxidant gas mixed with a reduced amount of diluent gas. A reduction in use of diluent gas give a relatively high offgas SO.sub.2 concentration of as much as 15 mole percent, suitable for sulfuric acid manufacture and/or reduction to sulfur.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

William M Campbell