Catalyst for catalytic oxidative cracking of hydrogen sulphide with concurrent hydrogen production
Disclosed is a catalyst suitable for the catalytic oxidative cracking of a H 2 S-containing gas stream. The catalyst comprises at least one or more active metals selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, and nickel, supported by a carrier comprising ceria and alumina. The active metal is preferably in the form of its sulphide. Also disclosed is a method for the production of hydrogen from a H 2 S-containing gas stream, comprising subjecting the gas stream to catalytic oxidative cracking so as to form H 2 and S 2 , using a catalyst in accordance with any one of the composition claims.
1. A method for the production of hydrogen from a H 2 S-containing gas stream, comprising subjecting the gas stream to catalytic oxidative cracking so as to form H 2 and S 2 , using a catalyst comprising at least one active metal selected from the group consisting of iron, cobalt, nickel, and combinations thereof, wherein said active metal is supported by a carrier comprising ceria and alumina.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the composition of the catalyst comprises nickel.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the H 2 S-containing gas stream and an oxygen-containing gas-stream are combined to form a feedstock, wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted with a molar ratio H 2 S/O 2 in the feedstock higher than 2:1.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the ratio is in a range of from 3:1 to 5:1.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted using an oxygen-containing gas-stream comprising at least 40 vol. % oxygen.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas-stream is oxygen having a purity of from 90-100 vol. %.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted at a temperature in a range from 700° C. to 1300° C.
8. The method of claim 1 , comprising a further step of subjecting formed SO 2 to hydrogenation.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising quenching gas produced from the catalytic oxidative cracking to a temperature below 950° C. in a quench zone, wherein the residence time in the quench zone is from 10 ms to 300 ms.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the H 2 S-containing acid gas and an oxygen-containing gas are mixed in a static mixer before entering a first catalytic bed in a Catalytic Oxidative Cracking reaction zone or zones.
11. The method of claim 3 , wherein the gas stream comprises NH 3 and the molar ratio of NH 3 /O 2 in the feedstock is between 0.1 and 1.5.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the Catalytic Oxidative Cracking reaction zone is followed by a Claus catalytic stage, comprising a gas reheater, Claus catalytic reactor and sulphur condenser.
13. The method of claim 3 , wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted with a molar ratio H 2 S/O 2 in the feedstock in the range of from 2:1 to 6:1.
14. The method of claim 4 , wherein the ratio is in a range of from 3.5:1 to 4.5:1.
15. The method of claim 5 , wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted using an oxygen-containing gas-stream comprising at least 60 vol. % oxygen.
16. The method of claim 7 , wherein the catalytic oxidative cracking is conducted at a temperature in a range from 950° C. to 1250° C.
17. The method of claim 8 , comprising a further step of subjecting formed COS and/or CS 2 to hydrogenation.
18. The method of claim 3 , wherein the molar ratio is in the range of from 1:1 to 6:1.