GB351994A - Process for the treatment of gases containing hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Gaseous hydrocarbons, e.g. paraffins such as methane and ethane, or olefines such as ethylene, or mixtures thereof, are passed together with a minor proportion, e.g. 20 per cent, of sulphur or hydrogen sulphide through a heated reaction zone or chamber at high temperature and high space velocity. Gases already containing hydrogen sulphide or reactive sulphur compounds such as the complex sulphur compounds present in certain types of natural gas may also be treated in this way. Except so far as is necessary to obtain efficient heat transfer, the use of excess surface and, in particular, of packed reaction chambers is avoided. The process may be carried out according to the methods of benzene production described in Specifications 332,998, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], and 342,359, [Group IV], or the multistage pyrolysis process described in Specification 342,319, [Group IV], may be used. A suitable apparatus for the present process is that described in Specification 349,958, but internal heating, e.g. by an electrically heated resister, may be used. In the example, a gas containing methane, ethane, propane, and butane, and 12,5 per cent of hydrogen sulphide is treated in a reaction chamber at 1200 DEG C., and at a space velocity of 250 reciprocal minutes. From each 1000 cubic feet of gas 0,6 gallons of carbon bisulphide and 0,3 gallons of benzene are obtained.ALSO:Gaseous hydrocarbons, e.g. paraffins such as methane and ethane, or olefines such as ethylene, or mixtures thereof, are passed together with a minor proportion, e.g. 20 per cent, of sulphur or hydrogen sulphide through a heated reaction zone or chamber at high temperature and high-space velocity. Gases already containing hydrogen sulphide or reactive sulphur compounds such as the complex sulphur compounds present in certain types of natural gas may also be treated in this way. Except so far as is necessary to obtain efficient heat transfer, the use of excess surface and, in particular, of packed reaction chambers is avoided. The process may be carried out according to the methods of benzene production described in Specifications 332,998, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], and 342,359, or the multistage pyrolysis process described in Specification 342,319 may be used. A suitable apparatus for the present process is that described in Specification 349,958, but internal heating, e.g. by an electrically heated resister, may be used. In the example, a gas containing methane, ethane, propane, and butane, and 12,5 per cent of hydrogen sulphide is treated in a reaction chamber at 1200 DEG C., and at a space velocity of 250 reciprocal minutes. From each 1000 cubic feet of gas 0,6 gallons of carbon bisulphide and 0,3 gallons of benzene are obtained.