Desulphurisation material comprising copper supported on zinc oxide
A particulate desulfurization material includes one or more copper compounds supported on a zinc oxide support material, wherein the desulfurization material has a copper content in the range 0.1 to 5.0% by weight and a tapped bulk density ≥1.55 kg/l. The material is obtained by (i) mixing a powdered copper compound with a particulate zinc support material comprising zinc oxide and one or more precursors that form zinc oxide upon calcination, and one or more binders to form a copper-containing composition, (ii) shaping the copper-containing composition by granulation, and (iii) drying and calcining the resulting granulated material.
1. A particulate desulphurisation material comprising one or more copper compounds supported on a particulate zinc oxide support material and not including a compound of nickel, wherein the desulphurisation material is in the form of granules formed from one or more powdered copper compounds, zinc oxide, and one or more binders, and has a copper content, expressed as CuO, in the range of from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight and a tapped bulk density of 1.55 kg/1 or greater.
2. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material has a particle size in the range of from 1 to 10 mm.
3. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material has a pore volume of 0.22 cm 3 /g or less.
4. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material has a BET surface area of 23 m 2 /g or less.
5. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the one or more copper compounds are copper metal, copper oxide, copper hydroxide, or copper hydroxycarbonate.
6. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the one or more binders are a clay binder, cement binder, or a mixture thereof.
7. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material further comprises a second support material that is one or more refractory oxide at a level up to 20% by weight.
8. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material further comprises a second metal compound that is one or more compounds of iron, manganese, or cobalt.
9. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the zinc oxide support material includes zinc oxide formed by calcining one or more zinc oxide precursors.
10. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material has a particle size in the range of from 1.5 to 7.5 mm.
11. The desulphurisation material of claim 1 , wherein the desulphurisation material has a particle size in the range of from 2.5 to 5.0 mm.
12. A process for desulphurizing a process fluid stream comprising contacting the stream, and optionally hydrogen, with the desulphurization material of claim 1 .
13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the process stream comprises a hydrocarbon gas and hydrogen.
14. The process of claim 12 , wherein the process fluid stream is mixed with hydrogen and contacted with a hydrodesulphurisation catalyst to form a treated process stream, and then the treated process stream is contacted with the desulphurisation material.
15. The process of claim 12 , wherein the desulphurisation material is contacted with the process fluid at a temperature in the range of from 250 to 450° C.
16. The process of claim 12 , wherein the desulphurisation material is contacted with the process fluid at a temperature in the range of from 300-400° C.
17. The process of claim 12 , wherein the desulphurisation material is contacted with the process fluid at a temperature in the range of from 320-400° C.