RU2757332C1 - Method for purification of a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulphur-containing compounds and unit for implementation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: treatment of gases.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method for purification of a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulphur-containing compounds, wherein electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulphuric acid H₂SO₄ and metal ions is conducted in an electrochemical reactor, the ion oxidation rate is changed, hydrocarbon-containing raw materials are mixed with the electrolyte solution, the sulphur-containing compounds are oxidised with metal ions and the electrolyte solution containing oxidised sulphur-containing compounds is isolated from the purified hydrocarbon-containing raw materials. The electrolyte solution comprises lead ions Pb²⁺, Pb⁴⁺, and electrolysis thereof is conducted in an electrochemical reactor equipped with lead electrodes connected to a direct current source and coated with lead sulphate PbSO₄ and lead oxide PbO₂. The hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulphur-containing compounds is mixed with an electrolyte solution containing water and sulphuric acid; the gas-liquid mixture of the gas and the electrolyte solution is supplied into an electrochemical reactor, and electrolysis of said mixture is conducted. On the electrode connected with the positive terminal of the direct current source, the sulphur-containing compounds are oxidised in a reaction thereof with lead ions Pb⁴⁺ and water forming sulphuric acid H₂SO₄ and lead sulphate PbSO₄. The hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulphur-containing compounds is isolated from the electrolyte solution and removed from the electrochemical reactor. The invention also relates to purification of a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulphur-containing compounds.

EFFECT: electrochemical purification of gases when using a simpler structure of the unit for implementation thereof and consuming less energy.

17 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl, 1 ex

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The group of inventions relates to the field of chemical technologies, namely to methods of purification of technological and natural hydrocarbon-containing gases from sulfur-containing compounds. A group of inventions proposes a method and an installation containing an electrochemical reactor with lead electrodes, in which electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid and lead ions is carried out, the oxidation state of ions is changed, hydrocarbon-containing raw materials are mixed with an electrolyte solution. Sulfur-containing compounds are oxidized with lead ions, predominantly to sulfuric acid, and the electrolyte solution containing oxidized sulfur-containing compounds and sulfuric acid is separated from the hydrocarbon-containing gases to be purified. To maintain the optimal concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution, part of the solution is removed from the electrochemical reactor and water is added to it. The electrolyte solution removed from the reactor can be used in lead-acid batteries without additional processing. You can also subject this solution to evaporation and obtain concentrated sulfuric acid used in various industrial processes.

BACKGROUND OF TECHNOLOGY.

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the removal of sulfur-containing compounds from natural or synthetic fuel gases due to aggravated environmental problems. Conventional methods for removing sulfur compounds include the use of water or other types of scrubbers that are expensive to install, operate and maintain, or catalysts. After removal of sulfur-containing compounds from the gas stream, the reaction products are recovered by thermal regeneration of the cleaning solution. However, these processes have limited efficiency and high energy costs.

Gaseous contaminants or impurities in gases such as, for example, Cl ₂ , SO ₂ , NO _x and mercaptans can be removed by wet chemical washing with a cleaning solution. Absorption devices such as, for example, bulk columns are used for this cleaning. In order to obtain a good cleaning effect, the absorbed gaseous component must be quickly converted. The disadvantage is the need to use certain chemicals. As a result, the wastewater disposal problem often arises from the reaction product generated in the scrubbing solution and arising from the waste gas problem.

A possible approach to removing unpleasant odor from sulfur-containing waste gases in the petrochemical industry is implemented, in particular, in the device and method according to the Chinese patent N 107138034, publ. 09/08/2017, according to which two rotating stuffing layers. The alkaline liquid is introduced into the first rotating bed and electrolyte is introduced into the second rotating bed to complete the two-stage absorption of waste gas in the petroleum or chemical industry. Sodium chloride is used as an electrolyte, which is dissolved in an alkali solution with a pH in the range from 7 to 12.

The scheme of the invention has a higher efficiency of absorption of unpleasant off-gas, allows more complete absorption of unpleasant off-gas and provides less secondary environmental pollution.

A high degree of purification can be achieved using catalysts. For example, in the application for US patent N 2019/0321776 "Method for flue gas desulfurization with molten carbonate", publ. October 24, 2019 describes a method for removing gases from industrial exhaust streams, and, in particular, a method for removing sulfur dioxide from flue gases with molten carbonate and treating the resulting molten mixture with natural gas and, in some cases, an oxidizing agent. the method includes: supplying flue gas containing sulfur dioxide; absorption of the specified sulfur dioxide with molten carbonate with the formation of a molten mixture of carbonates, sulfites and sulfates when heated; treating the specified molten mixture with natural gas and, optionally, an oxidizing agent, passing the specified natural gas through the specified molten mixture, thus obtaining steam containing sulfur; cooling the specified sulfur-containing steam and collecting it. It is known that a desulfurization method based on a molten eutectic mixture of lithium (Li), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) carbonates can be used to purify flue gases. In particular, it has been shown that by spraying a molten eutectic of Na, K and Li carbonate, large amounts of flue gases can be almost completely removed from SO ₂ (ie, up to 0.001%) with a relatively small amount of melt. In an embodiment, the eutectic mixture comprises 43.5 mol% _{Li 2} CO _{3 , 31.5 mol% Na 2} CO _3, 25.0 mol% K ₂ CO ₃ which melts at about 395 ° C. ...

However, all of these methods are limited in productivity and require energy consumption to obtain a melt of a gas cleaning reagent.

Currently, low-temperature catalysts are used, for example, US patent application N 2019/0329180 "A process for low temperature gas cleaning and a catalyst for use in the process", publ. 2019, which describes a method for low-temperature gas cleaning and a catalyst for use in this process. The process of purifying a lean gas stream contaminated with volatile organic compounds and / or sulfur-containing compounds includes the steps of adding ozone to the contaminated lean gas stream and contacting the resulting ozone-containing gas stream with a catalytic device at a temperature down to room temperature. Depending on the particulate content of the lean gas stream, the catalytic device is either a monolithic catalyst or a catalytic bag filter, both impregnated with a catalyst containing one or more metal oxides in which the metal is selected from vanadium, tungsten and palladium. and platinum. More specifically, the process according to the invention consists in first adding ozone to a lean gas stream which is contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and / or sulfur-containing compounds such as H ₂ S or dimethyl sulfide at a low temperature, i. E. temperature to room temperature, and then contacting the stream of ozone-containing gas with the catalyst.

It has now surprisingly been found that a catalytic device which contains a titanium dioxide support impregnated with vanadium and possibly also tungsten, palladium and / or platinum, can markedly reduce the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and / or sulfur-containing compounds such as like H₂S or dimethyl sulfide in a lean gas stream to which ozone has been added at low temperatures. Even more surprisingly, it has been found that this catalytic device not only reduces VOCs and / or sulfur in the gas stream, but also removes residual ozone. Colloid and Interface Science 446, 226-236 (2015) mentions studies of vapor-phase catalytic oxidation of dimethyl sulfide (DMS) with ozone over nanosized Fe catalysts₂O₃, ZrO₂carried out at low temperatures, i.e. 50-200 ° C.

Electrochemical processes have been used to remove sulfur-containing compounds from high-temperature gas streams using an electrolyte containing molten alkali metal salts to transport sulfate and / or sulfide ions from the cathode to the electrode, where they are oxidized and removed as gases. These processes, however, require operating temperatures above the melting point of the alkali metal salt and are of limited use at low temperatures. For example, such a modified use of electrochemical reactions, a method for removing sulfur-containing compounds is described in US patent N 4246081 "Electrochemical separation and concentration of sulfur containing gases from gas mixtures", publ. 01/20/1981. This invention provides a method for removing sulfur-containing gases from a gas mixture at a temperature of about 150 ° C or higher. The specified method includes the stages: creation of an electrochemical cell having an inert cathode and an inert anode; providing said cell with an electrolyte that melts at temperatures above about 150 ° C selected from the group consisting of alkali metal sulfates, alkali metal bisulfates and alkali metal pyrosulfates; raising the temperature of said cell to at least 150 ° C, whereby said electrolyte is in a molten state; carry out the flow of current between the specified cathode and the specified anode; directing the specified gas mixture past the specified cathode, where sulfur is oxidized and sulfur-containing anions are formed, which migrate to the specified anode and turn into gaseous particles, as a result of which concentrated sulfur gases are released at the specified anode. In this case, the stage of obtaining the electrolyte includes the selection of at least one salt of an alkali metal from the group consisting of SO ₄ ^2- , HSO ₄ ^- and S ₂ O ₇ ^- .

An interesting variant of combining the technology of flushing sulfur-containing gas and its purification in an electrolytic reactor is implemented in the invention according to US patent N 6071401 "Electrolytic method for purifying gases", publ. 06.06.2000. According to this method of electrolytic removal of an electrochemically convertible impurity from gases, the gas to be cleaned and the liquid electrolyte are carried out in a co-current or counter-current flow over a fixed-bed electrode in an electrolyzer, in which the impurity is converted at an effective cell voltage. The method according to the invention is characterized by the use of an electrolytic cell which comprises a counter electrode separated from the fixed-bed electrode by a separator and is in the form of a gas diffusion electrode.

Removing hydrogen sulfide from gaseous streams is a problem that has long been a problem in many areas of industry. This was a particular problem in the oil industry, which produces large quantities of hydrogen sulfide. Over the years, much research has been directed towards the electrolysis of hydrogen sulfide. While many advances have been made, significant challenges remain in the commercialization of the process. Typically, electrolysis of liquid hydrogen sulfide suffers from poor conductivity and retention problems. The use of an aqueous medium solves many problems, but this is accompanied by sulfur contamination of the anode, the formation of by-products in an alkaline environment and a low content of hydrogen sulfide in an acidic environment.

US Pat. No. 4,765,873 describes a method for removing hydrogen sulfide from a gaseous stream by contacting the stream with an aqueous solution of ammonium hydroxide to obtain ammonium sulfide. The ammonium sulfide is then converted to an intermediate ammonium polysulfide in an electrolytic cell. Thereafter, the ammonium polysulfide is oxidized to sulfur in the heating zone using oxygen-containing gas bubbling.

Another method for decomposing hydrogen sulfide into hydrogen and sulfur is described in US Pat. No. 5,578,189. In this process, a gas containing hydrogen sulfide is brought into contact with an electrolyte containing metal ions forming the sulfide by reacting the metal ions with hydrogen sulfide. Then, a gas free of hydrogen sulfide and containing hydrogen is recovered. The metal sulphide is electrochemically converted to form the metal and extract the sulfur.

According to US patent No. 4772366 "Electrochemical separation and concentration of sulfur containing gases from gas mixtures", publ. 09/20/1988 hydrogen sulfide is removed from the gas mixture by directing the gas into an electrochemical cell, which includes porous gas diffusion electrodes and a membrane containing an aqueous alkaline polysulfide electrolyte. H ₂ S is reduced to polysulfide ions on one electrode. These polysulfide ions migrate through the membrane to another electrode, the anode, where they are oxidized to form elemental sulfur. In another embodiment, a solvent is used to remove H ₂ S from the gas mixture. Bisulfide ions are formed and oxidized in an electrochemical cell to form elemental sulfur. The solvent is regenerated in the cell.

The process by this method is usually carried out at ambient operating temperatures and does not require a start-up period to activate the electrolyte. Accordingly, only a small amount of electrical energy is required for the one-step conversion of H _{2 S to elemental sulfur.} The process, however, can also be carried out at higher or lower temperatures. General reaction of the process: H ₂ S ----> H ₂ + S

A process involving the electrochemical oxidation of hydrogen sulfide is described in US Pat. No. 3,249,522. This process is specifically designed to operate a fuel cell that uses hydrogen sulfide as a fuel. This process uses a sulfuric solvent that evaporates under the process conditions.

In US patent No. 5908545 "Electrochemical process for decomposing hydrogen sulfide to produce hydrogen and sulfur", publ. 06/01/1999 describes a method for the decomposition of hydrogen sulfide to obtain hydrogen and sulfur. The process involves mixing hydrogen sulfide with an alkaline solution and introducing this mixture into an electrolyzer with an anode and a cathode. During operation of this cell, hydrogen is formed at the cathode, and a solution containing polysulfide is formed at the anode. The polysulfide-containing solution is separated and distilled to recover sulfur, and the remaining solution is recirculated to be mixed with additional hydrogen sulfide.

An important feature of this invention is that no sulfur deposition occurs in the electrochemical cell. Instead, ammonium polysulfides are formed in the ammonia solution. It was found that ammonium polysulfides dissolve well in a concentrated aqueous ammonia solution, and the resulting solution has a high vapor pressure.

The ammonium polysulfide solution that forms in the cell can be distilled to boil off the ammonia solution, leaving behind molten sulfur.

It is important to note the fact that the resulting water-insoluble sulfide metal compounds gradually accumulate in the purification reactors and worsen their characteristics. Methods of electric impact on them are used to restore them. For example, in the Chinese patent No. 107768751 "Chaos-based online sulfur removal method and implementation device thereof for lead-acid storage battery", publ. 03/06/2018 described a method for the rapid removal of sulfur from an electrochemical reactor, for example, from a lead-acid storage battery. This method generates pulses of electric current with wide frequency spectra, which are applied to two terminals of the storage battery and destroy lead sulfate crystals of different sizes on the electrodes during battery charging. The method is intended for the recovery of lead-acid batteries in order to refuse to dispose of them.

The closest analogue of the present invention is a method for removing organosulfur compounds from hydrocarbon-containing raw materials, described in US patent N 5723039 "Process for removal of organo-sulfur compounds from liquid hydrocarbons", publ. 03.03.1998. According to this method, the purification process of liquid hydrocarbon feedstock containing organosulfur compounds is carried out in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid containing transition metal ions such as vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, cerium or mixtures thereof, while the hydrocarbon feedstock is subjected to electrolysis to oxidize metal ions to a higher oxidation state. To implement the method, after electrolysis, the solution is emulsified with the feedstock to achieve oxidation of organosulfur compounds with the formation of water-soluble sulfur compounds, gaseous products, resinous products; the spent aqueous acidic solution and the purified hydrocarbon product are separated, and the spent aqueous solution is recycled by electrolysis.

All existing analogues have the following disadvantages: the complexity of processes and designs, the need for preliminary gas preparation, poor purification, consumption of reagents, production of waste that must be disposed of, etc.

Thus, the development of technical solutions that will improve the efficiency of cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds remains relevant and in demand.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method that allows the electrochemical purification of gases using a simpler plant design for its implementation and the consumption of less energy.

The advantage of the invention according to the claimed method: the ability to purify raw natural gas from the well, no consumption of reagents, obtaining a useful product in the form of waste - sulfuric acid.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION.

The method of cleaning a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds is carried out as follows

In an electrochemical reactor, electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ and metal ions is carried out, the oxidation state of the ions is changed, the hydrocarbon-containing feedstock is mixed with an electrolyte solution, sulfur-containing compounds are oxidized with metal ions, and the electrolyte solution containing oxidized sulfur-containing compounds is separated from the purified hydrocarbon-containing raw materials.

The electrolyte solution contains lead ions Pb ²⁺ , Pb ⁴⁺ , and its electrolysis is carried out in an electrochemical reactor equipped with lead electrodes connected to a direct current source and coated with lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO ₂ .

^{Electrochemical reduction of lead ions Pb 2+} contained in the electrolyte solution and lead sulfate PbSO _{4 is} carried out on the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the direct current source, with the formation of lead precipitate on this electrode.

The electrode connected to the positive terminal of the DC source, electrochemical oxidation is carried out Pb ²⁺ lead ions contained in the electrolyte solution and lead sulfate PbSO _4, to lead ion Pb ^4+, and the reaction is lead ion Pb ⁴⁺ with water to form a precipitate lead dioxide PbO ₂ on this electrode.

Hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, is mixed with an electrolyte solution containing water and sulfuric acid.

The gas-liquid mixture of gas and electrolyte solution is fed into an electrochemical reactor and electrolysis of this mixture is carried out.

On the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source, the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds is carried out in their reaction with lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ and water to form sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ and lead sulfate PbSO ₄ .

Hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, is separated from the electrolyte solution and removed from the electrochemical reactor.

Part of the electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ is removed from the electrochemical reactor, and water consumed for the formation of sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ is introduced into it in the reactions of lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ with water and sulfur-containing compounds.

When removing a solution containing water and sulfuric acid from the electrochemical reactor and adding water to the reactor, the concentration of sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ in the electrolyte solution is adjusted so that it changes in the range of 2-7 mol per 1 liter of solution.

During electrolysis of an electrolyte solution, after a predetermined amount of ion charge is transferred between the electrodes, the voltage polarity in the DC source is changed or the polarity of the connection of the electrodes with the positive and negative terminals of the DC source is changed.

The method of cleaning a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds is carried out using an installation containing:

an electrochemical reactor for electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid and metal ions;

mixer of hydrocarbon gases with electrolyte solution;

means for separating a hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds from an electrolyte solution;

direct current source and means for connecting its terminals with electrodes;

means for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor;

means for introducing a mixture of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution into an electrochemical reactor;

means for withdrawing from the electrochemical reactor a solution containing water and sulfuric acid, and adding water to the reactor to control the concentration of sulfuric acid H2SO ₄ in the electrolyte solution so that it does not exceed 7 mol per 1 liter of solution.

The body of an electrochemical reactor made of a material that is corrosion-resistant in an electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid.

Electrodes made in the form of lead parallel plates, the surface of which is covered with lead dioxide, installed in the housing and having through rectangular slots.

Electrode spacers made of electrically insulating material and installed between parallel lead plates;

The body of the electrochemical reactor is made in the form of a vertical metal cylinder equipped with end caps, the inner surface of which is covered with an electrically insulating material that is corrosion-resistant in an electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid.

Parallel lead electrode plates are made in the form of horizontal circular disks tightly inserted into the cylinder of the electrochemical reactor body so that the through rectangular slots in two adjacent circular disks are not parallel.

The separators of the electrodes are made in the form of flat rings with an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the lead circular discs of the electrodes.

The installation contains a package of electrodes in the form of horizontal circular disks installed in the body of an electrochemical reactor with electrode separators placed between them.

The upper and lower electrodes of the package are connected to the terminals of the DC power supply.

All electrodes of the package, except for the upper and lower electrodes, are electrically connected to the terminals of the direct current source through an electrolyte solution having ionic electrical conductivity.

All electrodes of the package, except for the upper and lower electrodes, are made in the form of bipolar electrodes, in which the oxidation and reduction reactions take place on the upper and lower surfaces of the electrodes.

The constant current source has a device for switching the polarity of the voltage at the terminals connected to the upper and lower electrodes of the package.

The installation contains two or more packages of electrodes installed in the body of the electrochemical reactor and connected in parallel with a direct current source.

The installation may contain two or more packages of electrodes installed in the body of the electrochemical reactor and two or more direct current sources, separately connected to each of the electrode packages.

In the installation, the body of the electrochemical reactor, made in the form of a vertical cylinder, has an upper cavity located between the upper electrode of the upper end cover, and a lower cavity located between the lower electrode and the lower end cover.

The means for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor are made in the form of a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution connecting the upper and lower cavities of the electrochemical reactor. The pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution is provided with a surface cooler for cooling the electrolyte solution flowing through this pipe.

In the installation, a mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution is located outside the body of the electrochemical reactor and is connected to its lower cavity.

In the installation, a mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution is located in the lower cavity and is made in the form of a horizontal disk having holes and dividing the lower cavity into two parts: upper and lower. The upper part of the lower cavity is connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution in the electrochemical reactor. The lower part of the lower cavity is connected to means for supplying hydrocarbon-containing gases to the installation.

In the installation, the means for separating the hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds from the electrolyte solution is located in the upper cavity and is made in the form of a horizontal disk having holes and dividing the upper cavity into two parts: upper and lower. The lower part of the upper cavity is connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution in the electrochemical reactor. An opening is made in the upper part of the upper cavity for the withdrawal of hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrochemical reactor.

In the installation, the means for withdrawing the electrolyte solution from the electrochemical reactor and for adding water to the reactor to control the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution contain:

a container for an electrolyte solution withdrawn from the electrochemical reactor connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution;

measuring the concentration of sulfuric acid at the entrance to the container for the electrolyte solution;

an electrolyte flow regulator at the inlet to the electrolyte container;

a water source equipped with a water flow regulator and connected to the lower cavity of the electrochemical reactor body.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.

The proposed method for cleaning a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds is illustrated by drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of an installation for cleaning a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds, which contains:

1 - the body of the electrochemical reactor;

2 - electrodes;

3 - separators of electrodes;

4 - means for supplying hydrocarbon-containing gases to the installation;

5- means for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor;

6 - mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with electrolyte solution;

7 - means for introducing a mixture of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution into an electrochemical reactor;

8 - means for separating the hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrolyte solution and its output from the electrochemical reactor;

9 - means for withdrawing from the electrochemical reactor a solution containing water and sulfuric acid;

10 - means for adding water to the reactor to compensate for its consumption for the production of sulfuric acid;

11 - means for measuring and regulating the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

By means of the installation, the diagram of which is shown in FIG. 1, the method is carried out as follows.

The body 1 of the electrochemical reactor through means 5 for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor is filled with an electrolyte solution containing water and sulfuric acid.

Electrodes 2 are connected to the terminals of the direct current source.

Hydrocarbon-containing gases, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, are fed through means 4 for feeding hydrocarbon-containing gases into the mixer 6 into the installation.

In the mixer 6, hydrocarbon-containing gases, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, are mixed with an electrolyte solution, and the resulting gas-liquid mixture is fed into the lower cavity of the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor. The volumetric flow rates of the gas and electrolyte solution at the inlets to the mixer 6 are adjusted so that at the outlet of it in the gas-liquid mixture, a liquid electrolyte solution is a continuous phase, and small gas bubbles are the dispersed phase.

The gas-liquid mixture rises into the upper cavity of the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor. The electrodes 1 are made in the form of disks, having rectangular slots and tightly inserted into the cylindrical body 1 of the electrochemical reactor. Therefore, the gas-liquid mixture can only pass through rectangular slots in the electrodes 2.

In the space between the two electrodes 1, limited by the separators 2 of the electrodes, gravitational separation of the gas-liquid mixture can occur. Gas bubbles with a density lower than the liquid electrolyte solution float in the electrolyte solution and can stick together to form large volumes of a continuous gas phase.

The gravitational separation of the gas-liquid mixture is prevented by turbulent pulsations of the flow of this mixture rising from the lower cavity of the housing 1 into its upper cavity. Efficient generators of turbulent pulsations of the mixture flow are electrodes 2 made in the form of disks with rectangular slots. With a non-parallel arrangement of these slots in two adjacent discs, effective mixing of the gas and the liquid electrolyte solution occurs. The housing 1 with such electrodes 2 is an effective mixer for gas and liquid electrolyte solution, in which the state of a mixture with a continuous liquid phase and a dispersed gas phase consisting of small gas bubbles is continuously maintained.

Therefore, the mixer 6 can be installed in the lower cavity of the housing 1 and is made in the form of a disk, similar to the disks of the electrodes 2, having slots and dividing the lower cavity of the housing 1 into two parts: upper and lower. When a liquid electrolyte solution is supplied to the upper part of the cavity and the gas to be cleaned is supplied to the lower part of the cavity near the disk, effective mixing of the gas and the electrolyte solution will occur with the formation of a gas-liquid medium containing small gas bubbles.

To improve the mixing of gas and electrolyte solution in the lower cavity of the housing 1, a pack of horizontal circular discs with non-parallel rectangular slots in adjacent discs can be installed. The hydrocarbon-containing gas to be cleaned must be supplied to the housing 1 with a pressure greater than the pressure of the gas-liquid mixture in the housing 1. Then the electrolyte solution will drain into the lower part of the cavity through the slots in the discs under the action of gravitational force of gravity. Gas through these slots will flow upward into the housing 1 and push the liquid electrolyte solution out of the slots upward in the form of small droplets. Therefore, each disc of the package will be an effective mixer of gas and liquid electrolyte solution.

The gas-liquid mixture rises in the housing 1 into its upper cavity and at the outlet of this cavity by means 8 the hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, is separated from the electrolyte solution and removed from the electrochemical reactor. The electrolyte solution is removed from the means 8 and fed to the mixer 6 for mixing with the hydrocarbon-containing gas supplied by means 4 to the installation.

Means 8 for separating the hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrolyte solution and its output from the electrochemical reactor can be placed in the upper cavity of the housing 1. For this, in the upper cavity of the housing 1, just as in its lower cavity, it is necessary to install a disk having slits and dividing the upper cavity into two parts: upper and lower.

A gas-liquid mixture will be supplied to the lower part of the cavity, rising in the housing 1. On the slotted disk, this mixture will be subjected to gravitational separation of gas and liquid. Gas bubbles will go through the slots in the disk into the upper part of the cavity and form in it a continuous gaseous medium of hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds. This gas is removed from the installation through an opening in the upper end cover of the housing 1.

The electrolyte solution, partially or completely separated from the gas, is discharged into means 5 for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor. The means 5 for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor can be made in the form of a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution connecting the upper and lower cavities of the electrochemical reactor. The pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution is provided with a surface cooler for cooling the electrolyte solution flowing through this pipe.

When this pipe is connected to the lower part of the upper cavity of the housing 1, the electrolyte solution must flow out so that the level of the surface of the liquid electrolyte in the housing 1 is below the disc with slots. Then gas bubbles will leave the surface of the liquid electrolyte, and carry out small drops of electrolyte from it. The electrolyte droplets will reach the bottom surface of the disc and the vertical surfaces of the slots in the disc, and stick to these surfaces.

Hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds and from electrolyte solution, is removed from the electrochemical reactor. Drops of electrolyte solution adhering to the surface of the disk, under the action of gravitational force of gravity, will drain from the disk and fall onto the surface of the liquid electrolyte in the lower part of the upper cavity of the housing 1.

To reduce the removal of small drops of electrolyte from the installation by the purified gas in the upper cavity of the housing 1, a pack of horizontal circular discs with non-parallel rectangular slots in adjacent discs can be installed. Then droplets of liquid electrolyte will be trapped by each of the discs in the bag.

The pipe for circulation of the electrolyte solution must be connected to the lower part of the upper cavity of the housing 1 and the upper part of the lower cavity of the housing 1. The density of the liquid electrolyte in this pipe will be greater than the density of the gas-liquid mixture in the housing 1 of the electrochemical reactor. Due to the difference in these densities, a convective flow will arise under the action of gravitational gravity forces. In case 1, the gas-liquid mixture will rise up, and in the pipe, the liquid electrolyte will go down.

On the surfaces of electrodes 2 connected to a direct current source, electrolysis of a gas-liquid mixture will take place, in which a liquid electrolyte solution will be a continuous phase. During electrolysis of a gas-liquid mixture, electrochemical reactions of oxidation or reduction of ions contained in a liquid electrolyte solution will occur on the surfaces of electrodes, as well as reactions of electrochemical decomposition of water with the release of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen.

In an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ , sulfuric acid will be separated into SO ₄ ^2- , HSO ₄ ^- and H ⁺ ions. During the electrolysis of an electrolyte solution on lead electrodes connected to a direct current source and coated with lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO ₂ ^{, H +} ions can be reduced at a very low rate to form hydrogen gas. The oxidation state of ions SO ₄ ^2- , HSO ₄ ^- will not change.

When gas bubbles come into contact with a liquid electrolyte solution containing ions with different oxidation states, gas molecules can be oxidized or reduced. Gas molecules, when gas bubbles come into contact with solid electrode surfaces, can be adsorbed on these surfaces. The adsorbed molecules can be oxidized or reduced by electrons moving in the metal of the electrode when an electric current flows through them.

Upon contact with an electrolyte solution or a surface, the rates of electrochemical oxidation of hydrocarbon molecules contained in the gas to be purified, for example, in natural gas, will always be much lower than the rates of oxidation of molecules of sulfur-containing compounds. The process of electrochemical reduction of hydrocarbon molecules is very difficult to carry out, and such processes in the body 1 of the electrochemical will not occur. Molecules of some sulfur-containing compounds can be electrochemically reduced at a low rate when they come into contact with the surface of the electrodes.

During the electrolysis of the gas-liquid mixture in the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor, oxidation and reduction reactions of lead ions Pb ²⁺ , Pb ⁴⁺ , metallic lead, lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO ₂ will proceed at a high speed. These reactions are analogous to the reactions that occur in lead-acid batteries when they are charged and discharged.

During the electrolysis of the gas-liquid mixture in the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor, oxidation reactions of the molecules of sulfur-containing compounds will also take place at a high speed, the implementation of which is necessary to purify hydrocarbon-containing gases from sulfur-containing compounds.

In an installation containing a package of electrodes in the form of horizontal circular discs of electrodes 2, all electrodes 2, except for the lower and upper electrodes 2 of the package, will be bipolar electrodes. The top and bottom electrodes of the stack will be connected to the DC power supply terminals. All electrodes of the package, except for the upper and lower electrodes, will be electrically connected to the terminals of the direct current source through an electrolyte solution having ionic electrical conductivity and other electrodes of the package.

If, for example, the top electrode of the stack is connected to the negative terminal of the DC source, then the bottom surfaces of all bipolar electrodes with respect to the electrolyte solution will be connected to the negative terminal of the DC source. Electrochemical ion reduction reactions will take place on these surfaces.

In this case, all the upper surfaces of all bipolar electrodes with respect to the electrolyte solution will be connected to the positive terminal of the DC source, to which the lower electrode of the package will be connected. Electrochemical reactions of ion oxidation will occur on these surfaces.

When electrolysis is carried out on the surface of the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the direct current source, there is an electrochemical reduction of lead ions Pb ²⁺ contained in the electrolyte solution and in lead sulfate PbSO ₄ , and lead oxide PbO ₂ with the formation of lead precipitate on this electrode. When solid precipitates of lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO _{2 are} consumed, the reduction of hydrogen ions H ⁺ contained in the solution begins on this surface, with the formation of gaseous hydrogen.

^{Electrochemical oxidation of lead ions Pb 2+} , contained in the electrolyte solution and in lead sulfate PbSO ₄ , to lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ occurs on the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source, and lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ react with water to form a precipitate lead dioxide PbO ₂ on this electrode. With the consumption of solid precipitates of lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and an increase in the layer thickness of lead oxide PbO ₂ on this surface, gaseous oxygen can be formed from water.

To prevent the formation of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen, which can mix with the hydrocarbon-containing gas to be purified, after the precipitation of lead sulfate on the surfaces of the electrodes is consumed, the polarity of the voltage in the DC source is changed or the polarity of the connection of the electrodes with the positive and negative terminals of the DC source is reversed. The consumption of lead sulfate deposits on the surfaces of the electrodes can be determined by the amount of electrical charge transferred between the electrodes. Therefore, the polarity in the direct current source is changed after transferring a predetermined amount of charge corresponding to the allowable consumption of lead sulfate deposits on the surfaces of the electrodes.

After polarity reversal in the DC power supply, lead sulfate precipitation will initially increase due to oxidation of lead metal and reduction of lead oxide on the electrode surfaces. The lead sulfate will then be consumed until the next DC voltage polarity reversal.

On the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source, upon contact of gas bubbles with an electrolyte solution, sulfur-containing compounds, for example, hydrogen sulfide H ₂ S, are oxidized in their reaction with lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ and water to form sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ and lead sulfate PbSO ₄ . In such reactions, mercaptans contained in hydrocarbon-containing gases will be oxidized to organic sulfonic acids.

Sulfur-containing compounds adsorbed from gas bubbles on the electrode surface connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source are oxidized in reactions with lead dioxide PbO ₂ and oxygen generated from water at this electrode.

Oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds changes the rate of consumption of solid precipitates of lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO ₂ on the surface of the electrodes. Therefore, for each type of hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds, it is necessary to experimentally determine the value of a given amount of charge corresponding to the permissible consumption of lead sulfate deposits on the electrode surfaces.

For this, it is possible to carry out electrolysis of a gas-liquid mixture containing a specific gas to be purified, to determine the amount of electric charge transferred by ions, and to determine the content of oxygen and hydrogen in the purified gas. Achievement of an unacceptable content of oxygen and hydrogen in the purified gas will correspond to the set value of the amount of the transferred charge, at which it is necessary to switch the voltage polarity in the DC source.

With changes in the composition of the purified, it will be necessary to again carry out an experimental determination of the specified value of the amount of transferred charge, at which it is necessary to switch the polarity of the voltage in the DC source. With frequent changes in the composition of the gas to be cleaned, such experiments may turn out to be unacceptably long. In this case, it is possible to continuously determine the oxygen content in the purified gas and switch the voltage polarity in the DC power supply when an unacceptable oxygen content in the purified gas is reached.

Sulfuric acid and sulfonic acids formed during the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds are dissolved in the water contained in the electrolyte solution and then removed from the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor together with the electrolyte solution. Gas bubbles, cleaned of oxidized organosulfur compounds, rise into the upper cavity of the housing 1, and the cleaned gas is removed from the installation.

During the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds for the formation of sulfuric acid and sulfonic acids, the water contained in the electrolyte solution is consumed, and the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution increases. When the concentration of sulfuric acid changes, the electrical conductivity of the solution and the power consumption for electrolysis change.

At any concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution, most of the electricity consumed for electrolysis of the solution will be converted into heat when an electric ion current flows between the electrodes, and will heat the electrolyte solution. To cool the electrolyte, the electrolyte solution circulation pipe is provided with a surface cooler for cooling the electrolyte solution flowing through this pipe. The surface cooler can be made in the form of a coaxial sealed casing on a pipe, into which a stream of water is supplied to cool the pipe.

The electrical conductivity of an electrolyte solution containing water and sulfuric acid is maximum at a sulfuric acid concentration of 5 mol per liter of solution. It decreases greatly when the concentration of sulfuric acid is less than 2 mol per 1 liter of solution and more than 7 mol per 1 liter of solution, and the power consumption for electrolysis is greatly increased.

To maintain the concentration of sulfuric in the electrolyte solution in the range of 2 - 7 mol per 1 liter of solution and to minimize the consumption of electricity for electrolysis, use:

means 9 for withdrawing from the electrochemical reactor a solution containing water and sulfuric acid;

means 10 for adding water to the reactor to compensate for its consumption for the production of sulfuric acid;

means 11 for measuring and regulating the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution.

All of these means can be connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution.

Means 9 contain:

a container for an electrolyte solution withdrawn from the electrochemical reactor connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution;

an electrolyte flow regulator at the inlet to the electrolyte container.

When the pressure of the gas to be cleaned and the gas-liquid mixture in the housing 1 is greater than the atmospheric pressure, the pump for supplying the electrolyte solution to the container may not be needed. At the bottom of the pipe for circulation of the electrolyte solution, there will be more pressure in housing 1 and more pressure of the cleaned gas at the outlet of the installation. Therefore, when the means 9 are connected to the lower end of this pipe, the pressure in the container for the electrolyte solution can be maintained higher than the pressure of the cleaned gas at the outlet of the installation, without using pumps that are resistant to corrosion in sulfuric acid solutions.

The electrolyte solution discharged into the container will contain a certain amount of dissolved purified gas. If there is a gas cavity in the container above the level of the liquid electrolyte solution, then the dissolved gas will gradually evolve into it. This gas can be removed from the gas cavity and mixed with the gas removed from the plant without using an additional compressor.

Means 10 contain a water source equipped with a water flow regulator and connected to the lower cavity of the body 1 of the electrochemical reactor. To supply water to the lower cavity of the housing 1 will be needed, but when the installation is operating according to the above description, it will be the only pump for supplying cold water at high pressure.

For the operation of the installation, high-pressure compressors for supplying gas and high-pressure pumps for supplying hot electrolyte solution will not be needed, and this is an important advantage of the claimed method and installation for its implementation.

Means 11 contain a meter for the concentration of sulfuric acid at the entrance to the container for the electrolyte solution.

In an electrolyte solution containing pure water and sulfuric acid, the density of the solution is uniquely related to the temperature of the solution and the concentration of sulfuric acid in the solution. At the entrance to the electrolyte solution container, this solution may contain dissolved gas and some dissolved lead sulfate, which can influence the density of the solution.

For stable operation of the installation, a very precise regulation of the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution is not required. Therefore, it will be possible to determine the concentration of sulfuric acid from the results of measuring the density and temperature of the solution without using any complex technique for the chemical analysis of the solution. This is also an advantage of the stated installation.

The electrolyte solution accumulated in the container can be used in lead-acid batteries without additional processing. You can also subject this solution to evaporation and obtain concentrated sulfuric acid used in various industrial processes. This acid will have a lower cost than sulfuric acid produced by known industrial methods. This is also an advantage of the claimed installation and method of gas purification.

All elements of the plant can be designed and manufactured by specialists in the field of processing hydrocarbon-containing gases, and therefore the claimed plant and method are industrially applicable.

EXAMPLE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE METHOD

The claimed method was tested in the layout of the installation. The dummy contained an electrochemical reactor, which was made by reworking a car battery containing lead oxide positive electrodes and sponge lead negative electrodes.

The electrochemical reactor was filled with an electrolyte solution with a density of 1.32 g / ml containing water, sulfuric acid, and lead ions Pb ²⁺ , Pb ⁴⁺ . The model was equipped with a hydrocarbon-containing gas atomizer made of porous alumina-based ceramic plates. Rectangular plates were positioned and hydrocarbon gas was fed under these plates. In the upper part of the model, separators were installed to separate a drop of solution from a hydrocarbon-containing gas, made in the form of polyethylene pipes with an inner diameter of 26 mm and a height of 200 mm.

When testing the prototype, the electrodes were connected to a direct current source or to a resistor and electrolysis of the electrolyte solution was carried out in a periodic mode similar to the periodic mode of charging a lead battery from a direct current source and discharging it to a resistor.

Model mixtures of hydrocarbon-containing gases and sulfur-containing compounds were fed into the electrochemical reactor through a spray nozzle at a flow rate of 10 m ³ / h. At the outlet of the gas separators, the concentration of sulfur-containing compounds in the gas mixture was measured.

The results of testing the layout of the installation are shown in the table.

Gas (model mixture) at the inlet Outlet gas Methane 0.978% vol.
Hydrogen sulfide 0.08% vol.
Mercaptans 0.014% vol. 0.1ppm
1.6ppm C1-C4 gases after cracking
Total sulfur 1.12% of the mass. 0.08ppm Hydrogen 0.8% vol.
Nitrogen 0.15% vol.
Hydrogen sulfide 0.05 vol. 0.02ppm

Claims (57)

1. A method for purifying a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds, in which electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ and metal ions is carried out in an electrochemical reactor, change the oxidation state of ions, mix hydrocarbon-containing raw materials with an electrolyte solution, oxidize sulfur-containing compounds with metal ions and separating the electrolyte solution containing oxidized sulfur-containing compounds from the hydrocarbon-containing feed to be purified, characterized in that: the electrolyte solution contains lead ions Pb ²⁺ , Pb ⁴⁺ , and its electrolysis is carried out in an electrochemical reactor equipped with lead electrodes connected to a direct current source and coated with lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO ₂ ; ^{electrochemical reduction of lead ions Pb 2+} contained in the electrolyte solution and lead sulfate PbSO ₄ and lead oxide PbO _{2 are} carried out on the electrode connected to the negative terminal of the direct current source, with the formation of lead precipitate on this electrode; the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the DC source, electrochemical oxidation is carried out Pb ²⁺ lead ions contained in the electrolyte solution and lead sulfate PbSO _4, to lead ion Pb ^4+, and the reaction is lead ion Pb ⁴⁺ with water to form a precipitate lead dioxide PbO ₂ on this electrode; a hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds is mixed with an electrolyte solution containing water and sulfuric acid; a gas-liquid mixture of a gas and an electrolyte solution is fed into an electrochemical reactor and electrolysis of this mixture is carried out; on the electrode connected to the positive terminal of the direct current source, the oxidation of sulfur-containing compounds is carried out in their reaction with lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ and water to form sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ and lead sulfate PbSO ₄ ; hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, is separated from the electrolyte solution and removed from the electrochemical reactor. 2. A method for purifying a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 1, characterized in that part of the electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ is removed from the electrochemical reactor, and water consumed for the formation of sulfuric acid H _{2 is introduced into it} SO ₄ , in the reactions of lead ions Pb ⁴⁺ with water and sulfur-containing compounds. 3. A method for purifying a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 2, characterized in that when the solution containing water and sulfuric acid is removed from the electrochemical reactor and water is added to the reactor, the concentration of sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ in the electrolyte solution is adjusted so that it varied in the range of 2-7 mol per 1 liter of solution. 4. A method for purifying a hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 1, characterized in that during electrolysis of an electrolyte solution after transferring a predetermined amount of ion charge between the electrodes, the voltage polarity in the direct current source is changed or the polarity of the connection of the electrodes with the positive and negative terminals of the direct current source ... 5. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds, containing: an electrochemical reactor for electrolysis of an electrolyte solution containing water, sulfuric acid and metal ions: Pb ²⁺ and Pb ⁴⁺ ; mixer of hydrocarbon gases with electrolyte solution; means for separating a hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds from an electrolyte solution; direct current source and means for connecting its terminals with electrodes; characterized in that it contains: an electrochemical reactor body made of a material that is corrosion-resistant in an electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid; electrodes made in the form of lead parallel plates, the surface of which is coated with lead dioxide, installed in the housing and having through rectangular slots; separators of electrodes made of electrically insulating material and installed between parallel lead plates; means for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor; means for introducing a mixture of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution into an electrochemical reactor; means for withdrawing from the electrochemical reactor a solution containing water and sulfuric acid, and adding water to the reactor to control the concentration of sulfuric acid H ₂ SO ₄ in the electrolyte solution so that it does not exceed 7 mol per 1 liter of solution. 6. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 5, characterized in that: the body of the electrochemical reactor is made in the form of a vertical metal cylinder equipped with end caps, the inner surface of which is covered with an electrically insulating material that is corrosion-resistant in an electrolyte solution containing sulfuric acid; parallel lead electrode plates are made in the form of horizontal circular disks tightly inserted into the cylinder of the electrochemical reactor body so that the through rectangular slots in two adjacent circular disks are not parallel; the electrode separators are made in the form of flat rings with an outer diameter equal to the diameter of the lead circular electrode disks. 7. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 6, characterized in that: contains a package of electrodes in the form of horizontal circular discs with electrode separators placed between them; the upper and lower electrodes of the package are connected to the terminals of the direct current source; all electrodes of the stack, except for the upper and lower electrodes, are electrically connected to the terminals of the direct current source through an electrolyte solution having ionic electrical conductivity; all electrodes of the package, except for the upper and lower electrodes of the package, are made in the form of bipolar electrodes; the constant current source has a device for switching the polarity of the voltage at the terminals connected to the upper and lower electrodes of the package. 8. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains two or more packages of electrodes installed in the body of the electrochemical reactor and connected in parallel with a direct current source. 9. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains two or more packages of electrodes installed in the body of the electrochemical reactor, and two or more direct current sources, separately connected to each of the electrode packages ... 10. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 6, characterized in that: The body of the electrochemical reactor, made in the form of a vertical cylinder, has an upper cavity located between the upper electrode and the upper end cover, and a lower cavity located between the lower electrode and the lower end cover. 11. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for circulating and cooling the electrolyte solution in the body of the electrochemical reactor are made in the form of a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution connecting the upper and lower cavities of the electrochemical reactor. 12. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 11, characterized in that the pipe for circulation of the electrolyte solution is equipped with a surface cooler for cooling the electrolyte solution flowing through this pipe. 13. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that the mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution is located outside the body of the electrochemical reactor and is connected to its lower cavity. 14. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that: a mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution is located in the lower cavity; the mixer of hydrocarbon-containing gases with an electrolyte solution is made in the form of a horizontal disk having holes and dividing the lower cavity into two parts: upper and lower; the upper part of the lower cavity is connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution in the electrochemical reactor; the lower part of the lower cavity is connected to means for supplying hydrocarbon-containing gases to the installation. 15. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper cavity is connected to means for separating the hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrolyte solution and its withdrawal from the electrochemical reactor. 16. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that: means for separating a hydrocarbon-containing gas purified from sulfur-containing compounds from an electrolyte solution is located in the upper cavity; means for separating hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrolyte solution and its output from the electrochemical reactor is made in the form of a horizontal disk having holes and dividing the upper cavity into two parts: upper and lower; the lower part of the upper cavity is connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution in the electrochemical reactor; an opening is made in the upper part of the upper cavity for the withdrawal of hydrocarbon-containing gas, purified from sulfur-containing compounds, from the electrochemical reactor. 17. Installation for cleaning hydrocarbon-containing gas from sulfur-containing compounds according to claim 10, characterized in that the means for withdrawing the electrolyte solution from the electrochemical reactor and for adding water to the reactor to control the concentration of sulfuric acid in the electrolyte solution comprise: a container for an electrolyte solution withdrawn from the electrochemical reactor, the entrance to which is connected to a pipe for circulating the electrolyte solution; measuring the concentration of sulfuric acid at the entrance to the container for the electrolyte solution; an electrolyte flow regulator at the inlet to the electrolyte container; a water source equipped with a water flow regulator and connected to the lower cavity of the electrochemical reactor body.

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