Process for producing synthesis gas free-from volatile metal hydrides

Abstract

Process for producing synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas substantially free-from volatile metal hydride impurities e.g. a hydride of arsenic, germanium, antimony, lead, tin, silicon, and mixtures thereof starting with the partial oxidation of liquid hydrocarbon fuel and/or solid carbonaceous fuel containing at least one mtal impurity from Group IV A and V A of the Periodic Table of Elements. At least one intermetallic reaction product of said metal impurity from Group IV A and V A leaves the gas generator in admixture with the hot raw process gas stream. A metal hydride forms when the gas stream is quench cooled and scrubbed with water. The metal hydride is then decomposed into its elements e.g. H.sub.2 and a Group IV A aor V A metal when the cooled and scrubbed gas stream contacts a solid sorbent material having a minimum surface area of 10 square meters per gram in a gas-solids contacting zone at a temperature in the range of about 0.degree. C. to 350.degree. C., a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres, and a space velocity in the range of about 300 to 10,000 standard cubic feed per hour dry gas feed per cubic foot of solid sorbent material. The metallic portion of the decomposed hydride is deposited on the solid sorbent contacting material in the elemental form or as the sulfide or oxide. A stream of synthesis gas, reducing gas, or fuel gas, substantially free-from volatile metal hydrides is removed from the gas-solids contacting zone in admixture with the hydrogen produced in the decomposing step. Poisoning of downstream catalyst beds and clogging of heat exchanger tubes are thereby avoided. Valuable rare metals may be recovered from fossil fuels by the subject process.