Enrichment of Hydrogen Sulfide

A hydrocarbon feed (e.g., methane, light and heavy liquids or petroleum coke and coal) is converted to synthesis gas (mostly CO and H2 with small amounts of acid gases C02 H2S and COS as impurities) in the partial oxidation process by reacting with steam and oxygen at a temperature of 1,370-1,540X. By cooling off the hot gas, CO is converted with the steam to form C02andH2. 

Enrichment of acid gases such as H2S and CO2 is a critical step in coal gasification because hydrogen sulfide needs to reach a sufficiently high concentration to be effectively treated by the conventional Claus unit. Currently the proven process for separating the H2S and CO2 from H2 is the Rectisol process which is exuemely expensive but it produces a H2S-rich acid gas mixture that can be further handled by the inexpensive, established Claus process to recover elemental sulfur and reduce SOx emissions. 

Separation of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide by inorganic membranes 

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