	US 11,945,716 B2
	Adsorption-based Claus tail gas treatment
Georgios Lithoxoos, Dhahran (SA); Sebastien A. Duval, Dhahran (SA); and Rashid M. Othman, Al Khobar (SA)
Assigned to Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Sep. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/945,809.
Claims priority of application No. 20210100882 (GR), filed on Dec. 15, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0183066 A1, Jun. 15, 2023
Int. Cl. C01B 17/04 (2006.01); B01D 53/00 (2006.01)

CPC C01B 17/0447 (2013.01) [B01D 53/002 (2013.01); B01D 2257/304 (2013.01)]

29 Claims

1. A method for sulfur recovery, the method comprising:

in a hydrogenation reactor, converting sulfur-containing compounds in a Claus tail gas stream to hydrogen sulfide to produce a hydrogenated gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide, water, and at least one of carbon dioxide or nitrogen;

feeding the hydrogenated gas stream to a quench tower to produce a quenched gas stream by condensing liquid water into a water condensate stream;

feeding the quenched gas stream to a first stage adsorption vessel of a first stage adsorption unit to produce a first outlet gas stream by adsorbing water from the quenched gas stream;

feeding the first outlet gas stream to a second stage adsorption vessel of a second stage adsorption unit to produce a second byproduct gas stream by adsorbing hydrogen sulfide from the first outlet gas stream;

separating at least a portion of the second byproduct gas stream into a carbon dioxide stream and an enriched nitrogen stream; and

regenerating the second stage adsorption vessel by feeding a portion of the enriched nitrogen stream to the second stage adsorption vessel to produce a second outlet gas stream.