GB2262457A - Removing h2s from gas - Google Patents
Removing h2s from gas Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2262457A GB2262457A GB9127056A GB9127056A GB2262457A GB 2262457 A GB2262457 A GB 2262457A GB 9127056 A GB9127056 A GB 9127056A GB 9127056 A GB9127056 A GB 9127056A GB 2262457 A GB2262457 A GB 2262457A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- hydrogen sulphide
- gas mixture
- gas
- water
- tower
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 55
- RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dihydrogen sulfide Chemical compound S RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 35
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 24
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 15
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 239000001117 sulphuric acid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 238000005201 scrubbing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 241001148470 aerobic bacillus Species 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 abstract description 4
- 239000007921 spray Substances 0.000 abstract description 2
- 239000007800 oxidant agent Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012856 packing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000894006 Bacteria Species 0.000 description 1
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 description 1
- -1 air Chemical compound 0.000 description 1
- 238000004887 air purification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000008346 aqueous phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004880 explosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007792 gaseous phase Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000746 purification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003134 recirculating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010865 sewage Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007614 solvation Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/14—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by absorption
- B01D53/1418—Recovery of products
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/14—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols by absorption
- B01D53/18—Absorbing units; Liquid distributors therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D53/00—Separation of gases or vapours; Recovering vapours of volatile solvents from gases; Chemical or biological purification of waste gases, e.g. engine exhaust gases, smoke, fumes, flue gases, aerosols
- B01D53/34—Chemical or biological purification of waste gases
- B01D53/74—General processes for purification of waste gases; Apparatus or devices specially adapted therefor
- B01D53/84—Biological processes
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
- C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
- C01B17/00—Sulfur; Compounds thereof
- C01B17/69—Sulfur trioxide; Sulfuric acid
- C01B17/74—Preparation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D2257/00—Components to be removed
- B01D2257/30—Sulfur compounds
- B01D2257/304—Hydrogen sulfide
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02A50/00—TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather
- Y02A50/20—Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Treating Waste Gases (AREA)
- Physical Water Treatments (AREA)
- Gas Separation By Absorption (AREA)
Abstract
Hydrogen sulphide is removed from a mixture with other gases, especially inflammable gases eg. methane, by scrubbing the mixture with water to dissolve out the hydrogen sulphide, separating the aqueous liquid from the remaining undissolved gases, and then biologically oxidising the aqueous liquid to convert the dissolved hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid. An apparatus for carrying out the method comprises a scrubber (1), separating means (12) and biological oxidation means (2). The gas enters at (9) and is scrubbed by counter-current contact with the water from spray (6). The solution collects in tank (11) from which it overflows through U-trap (12) and passes through biological oxidiser (2) co-currently with air supplied at (8).
Description
GAS TREATMENT
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulphide from mixtures thereof with other gases, particularly but not exclusively from mixtures thereof with other easily combustible gases.
It is known to remove hydrogen sulphide gas from mixtures thereof with other gases by oxidising the hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid using for example suitable aerobic bacteria. If, however, the hydrogen sulphide is in admixture with one or more other easily combustible gases, such as methane, it is very difficult, using conventional procedures, to eliminate the risk of fire or even explosion.
We have now found a way of overcoming this problem.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating a gas mixture containing hydrogen sulphide which comprises scrubbing the gas mixture with water to dissolve the hydrogen sulphide, and then after separating the aqueous liquor from the remaining gases, subjecting the aqueous liquor to biological oxidation to convert the dissolved hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid.
In another aspect, the invention provides a gas treatment apparatus which comprises a scrubber to remove hydrogen sulphide from a gas mixture into aqueous solution, means to separate the aqueous solution from remaining gas, and means-to oxidise biologically the separated aqueous solution to form sulphuric acid.
The method and apparatus of the invention can be used with any gas mixture containing hydrogen sulphide, but it is particularly useful for the safe treatment of gas mixtures which contain (in addition to the hydrogen sulphide) one or more other inflammable or explosive gases such as methane. Thus, off-gases from sewage treatment plants and other digester gases can be treated in accordance with the invention, as can landfill gases and other "natural gases" which contain hydrogen sulphide, and any other gas mixture from which it is desired to remove the hydrogen sulphide.
In one preferred arrangement of the invention, a water scrubbing column is used through which the gas mixture is passed in contact with water, to dissolve out the hydrogen sulphide. Counter-current flow is preferred but this is not essential. The aqueous liquor from the scrubbing column is then passed (without the other undissolved gases) to a unit for biological oxidation of the dissolved hydrogen sulphide. One preferred unit is in the form of a tower containing aerobic bacteria immobilised on an inert support. Oxygen, e.g. air, is supplied to the the tower so that, as the aqueous liquor passes therethrough, oxidation is effected. Preferably co-current flow is used in the tower, but this is not essential.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates schematically a plant for treating methane gas containing hydrogen sulphide, in accordance with the present invention.
The plant shown in the drawing comprises a water scrubber 1 and a tower 2. The water scrubber has a water or effluent inlet pipe 3 located above a packed column 4 which is supported on a perforated disc 5 within the scrubber. The water or effluent emerges from the inlet pipe 3 via a spray nozzle 6 and filters through the packed column and perforated disc to a chamber 7 in the scrubber below the disc. An outlet pipe 8 exits from the chamber 7 and a gas inlet pipe 9 supplies a stream of gas to the chamber, the gas being primarily methane containing hydrogen sulphide. The methane gas mixture passes up through the perforated disc 5 and the packed column 4 and out of the scrubber by means of a gas outlet 10. Thus there is counter-current flow of water and gas through the scrubber and the hydrogen sulphide is thereby separated from the methane gas.The water containing dissolved hydrogen sulphide collects as liquor 11 in the chamber 7 below the disc. The solvation stage in the scrubber may advantageously use counter-current flow, since the rate of mass transfer of hydrogen sulphide from the gaseous phase into the aqueous phase is favoured thereby.
The liquor 11 collects in chamber 7 and flows out through outlet pipe 8 via a U-trap 12 and an inlet pipe 13 to the top of the tower 2. The liquor is thus separated from the methane gas. Inside the tower, the liquor passes over a weir plate 14, and through a packed column 15 supported on a perforated disc 16, and collects in a chamber 17 below the disc. An air inlet pipe 18 is also provided at the top of the tower so that there is cocurrent flow of the liquor and the air through the packed column 15. Within the packed column, aerobic sulphur oxidising bacteria are immobilised on an inert packing. As the liquor passes through the packed column 15 in the presence of air, the obligate aerobic bacteria effect the oxidation of the hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid.The tower should therefore be aerated (supplied with air via inlet pipe 18) at a rate sufficient to provide enough oxygen for the complete oxidation of the dissolved hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid.
The oxidation stage is more efficient if cocurrent flow is used in the tower, since the greater amounts of hydrogen sulphide in solution in the liquor at the top of the column require equivalent amounts of oxygen to oxidise it. As the liquor passes through the packing, the level of hydrogen sulphide in solution falls concurrently with the drop in oxygen demand. Co-current operation also inhibits release of hydrogen sulphide gas from the liquor.
Oxidation of the hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid results in the collection of dilute sulphuric acid 19 in the chamber 17 below the packed column 15. The chamber 17 is provided with an air outlet pipe 20 and a fluid outlet pipe 21. The fluid outlet pipe 21 is connected via a recirculating pump 22 and a non-return valve 23 to the effluent inlet pipe 3 to the scrubber. Thus the dilute sulphuric acid is used as the supply of water to the scrubber 1.
In order to prevent the continual build-up or increase in concentration of sulphuric acid in the plant, an incoming make-up water supply is provided to the chamber 17 via pipe 24.
An overflow pipe 25 is also provided such that the amount of liquid in the system remains substantially constant, and the concentration of sulphuric acid and the pH of the liquid also remain substantially constant.
The U-trap 12 and the non-return valve 23 ensure that the methane and air processes remain totally separate, so that the complete plant is intrinsically safe from any contact between the two stages, even when the scrubber 1 i positioned directly above the oxidation tower 2, as shown in the drawing.
Clearly, the basic use of this plant in accordance with the present invention is for the purification of inflammable gases such as methane. The purified gas exits from the methane stripping water scrubber by outlet 10 and can be burnt off, collected for any suitable purpose, or otherwise disposed of.
Alternatively, the plant may be added on to an air purification plant, the air being used to supply the oxidation tower 2, thus providing a dual purpose unit.
Claims (14)
1. A method of treating a gas mixture containing hydrogen sulphide which comprises scrubbing the gas mixture with water to dissolve the hydrogen sulphide, and then after separating the aqueous liquor from the remaining gases, subjecting the aqueous liquor to biological oxidation to convert the dissolved hydrogen sulphide to sulphuric acid.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the gas mixture is passed through a water scrubbing column in contact with water.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein there is counter-current flow of water and the gas mixture through the column.
4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the aqueous liquor is separated from the remaining gases by passage through a U-trap.
5. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the aqueous liquor, once separated from the remaining gases, is passed into a tower containing aerobic bacteria immobilised on an inert support, and oxygen is supplied to the tower so that as the aqueous liquor passes therethrough oxidation is effected.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein there is co-current flow of oxygen and the aqueous solution through the tower.
7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the gas mixture contains at least one inflammable or explosive gas in addition to the hydrogen sulphide.
8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the gas mixture contains methane.
9. A gas treatment apparatus which comprises a scrubber to remove hydrogen sulphide from a gas mixture into aqueous solution, means to separate the aqueous solution from remaining gas, and means to oxidise biologically the separated aqueous solution to form sulphuric acid.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the scrubber comprises a water scrubbing column through which the gas mixture may be passed in contact with water.
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, which includes a U-trap adapted for separating the aqueous solution from the remaining gas.
12. Apparatus according to claim 9,10 or 11, which comprises a tower containing an inert support for aerobic bacteria, whereby oxygen may be supplied to the tower so that, as the aqueous solution passes therethrough. oxidation is effected.
13. A gas treatment apparatus for removing hydrogen sulphide from a gas mixture substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
14. A method of treating a gas mixture containing hydrogen sulphide substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9127056A GB2262457A (en) | 1991-12-20 | 1991-12-20 | Removing h2s from gas |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9127056A GB2262457A (en) | 1991-12-20 | 1991-12-20 | Removing h2s from gas |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9127056D0 GB9127056D0 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
| GB2262457A true GB2262457A (en) | 1993-06-23 |
Family
ID=10706586
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9127056A Withdrawn GB2262457A (en) | 1991-12-20 | 1991-12-20 | Removing h2s from gas |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2262457A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6221652B1 (en) * | 1996-11-27 | 2001-04-24 | Paques Bio Systems B.V. | Process for biological removal of sulphide |
| EP1938886A1 (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-02 | Casals Cardona Industrial, S.A. | Biological procedure for H2S removal from a gas |
| CN104437007A (en) * | 2014-11-03 | 2015-03-25 | 中国科学院城市环境研究所 | Formaldehyde scavenging air purifier |
| WO2016204616A1 (en) * | 2015-06-19 | 2016-12-22 | Bonno Koers | Method and apparatus for removal of hydrogen sulphide from gas mixtures with microorganisms |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112870944B (en) * | 2021-01-15 | 2023-09-29 | 昆明理工大学 | Treatment device and treatment method for flue gas desulfurization and mercury removal and resource recovery |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4880542A (en) * | 1988-05-13 | 1989-11-14 | Combustion Engineering, Inc. | Biofilter for the treatment of sour water |
| US4968622A (en) * | 1987-10-19 | 1990-11-06 | Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft | Procedure for microbiologica transformation of sulphur containing harmful components in exhaust gases |
| WO1991019558A1 (en) * | 1990-06-15 | 1991-12-26 | Paques B.V. | Process for the removal of hydrogensulphide (h2s) from biogas |
| US5077025A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1991-12-31 | Arasin Gmbh | Process or purifying waste gases by scrubbing with an adsorbent suspension |
| EP0472249A2 (en) * | 1990-08-24 | 1992-02-26 | Preussag Noell Wassertechnik GmbH | Process and apparatus for biological degradation of hydrogen sulphide |
-
1991
- 1991-12-20 GB GB9127056A patent/GB2262457A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4968622A (en) * | 1987-10-19 | 1990-11-06 | Waagner-Biro Aktiengesellschaft | Procedure for microbiologica transformation of sulphur containing harmful components in exhaust gases |
| US4880542A (en) * | 1988-05-13 | 1989-11-14 | Combustion Engineering, Inc. | Biofilter for the treatment of sour water |
| US5077025A (en) * | 1988-09-09 | 1991-12-31 | Arasin Gmbh | Process or purifying waste gases by scrubbing with an adsorbent suspension |
| WO1991019558A1 (en) * | 1990-06-15 | 1991-12-26 | Paques B.V. | Process for the removal of hydrogensulphide (h2s) from biogas |
| EP0472249A2 (en) * | 1990-08-24 | 1992-02-26 | Preussag Noell Wassertechnik GmbH | Process and apparatus for biological degradation of hydrogen sulphide |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6221652B1 (en) * | 1996-11-27 | 2001-04-24 | Paques Bio Systems B.V. | Process for biological removal of sulphide |
| EP1938886A1 (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-02 | Casals Cardona Industrial, S.A. | Biological procedure for H2S removal from a gas |
| CN104437007A (en) * | 2014-11-03 | 2015-03-25 | 中国科学院城市环境研究所 | Formaldehyde scavenging air purifier |
| CN104437007B (en) * | 2014-11-03 | 2020-08-04 | 中国科学院城市环境研究所 | Remove formaldehyde air purifier |
| WO2016204616A1 (en) * | 2015-06-19 | 2016-12-22 | Bonno Koers | Method and apparatus for removal of hydrogen sulphide from gas mixtures with microorganisms |
| NL2014997B1 (en) * | 2015-06-19 | 2017-01-24 | Koers Bonno | Method and apparatus for removal of hydrogen sulphide from gas mixtures. |
| US10493402B2 (en) | 2015-06-19 | 2019-12-03 | Bonno Koers | Method and apparatus for removal of hydrogen sulphide from gas mixtures with microorganisms |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9127056D0 (en) | 1992-02-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 730A | Proceeding under section 30 patents act 1977 | ||
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |