A continuous process for recovery of sulfur from natural gas containing low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide

A continuous catalytic process was developed to remove hydrogen sulfide from a natural gas stream using activated carbon as catalyst. The concentration range of hydrogen sulfide in the gas stream studied was 300–3000 ppmv (0.0126–0.126 moles/m³). Virtually 100 percent conversion of hydrogen sulfide was achieved by the combination of various parameters. The “field gas” employed in this study exhibited cracking of some heavier hydrocarbons and made the product sulfur slightly brown. These hydrocarbons should therefore be separated from the gas stream prior to the oxidation reaction. No carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide was produced during the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. It is concluded that the process described herein has the potential for the removal of hydrogen sulfide as sulfur from a sour natural gas stream on a continuous basis and could therefore eliminate an environmental problem which now exists.