THE EFFECTS OF PRESSURE AND TEMPERATURE ON THE CATALYTIC-OXIDATION OF HYDROGEN-SULFIDE IN NATURAL-GAS AND REGENERATION OF THE CATALYST TO RECOVER THE SULFUR PRODUCED

The influence of pressure up to 5600 kPa and temperature up to 175-degrees-C on the oxidation of low concentrations of H2S in natural gas was studied in a fixed bed reactor over an activated carbon catalyst. Operation of this system at 5600 kPa provides higher catalyst activity (virtually 100% H2S conversion) over a longer period of time and with lower selectivity to SO2 than when operated at atmospheric pressure. The desorption of sulfur from a loaded catalyst occurs first from the macropores (> 100 nm) of the catalyst which contain a substantial portion of the sulfur load and then from the micropores (< 100 nm). This study also indicated that the sulfur recovery process is both rapid and effective at 327-degrees-C.