Process for the production of hydrogen

1. Process for removal of organic and/or inorganic sulfur from an ammonia stream comprising:

passing an ammonia stream through a fixed bed of sulfur absorbent in a sulfur absorber, wherein said sulfur absorbent is a catalyst having a total nickel content in reduced form in the range of 10 to 70 wt % with the balance being a promoter which is one or more oxides selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium and mixtures thereof and a carrier material, wherein the carrier material is selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesium alumina spinel, silica, titania, magnesia, zirconia and mixtures thereof; and

withdrawing a sulfur-free ammonia stream.

2. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst has a total nickel content in reduced form of above 20 wt % with the balance being alumina as the carrier material.

3. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the promoted catalyst has a composition in oxidized form of above 20 wt % total nickel in reduced form and above 5 wt % promoter with the balance being alumina as the carrier material.

4. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the sulfur absorber is a pre-reforming unit and the sulfur absorbent is a pre-reforming catalyst having a total nickel content in reduced form in the range 20 to 30 wt %, alumina content in the range 10 to 15 wt % with the balance being magnesia.

5. Process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is a methanation catalyst that has a total nickel content in reduced form of above 20 wt % with the balance being alumina as the carrier material.

6. Process according to claim 1 , wherein absorption of sulphur is conducted at a temperature in the range of 100 to 650° C. and pressure in the range of 0.5 to 10 MPa.

7. Process according to claim 1 , wherein said ammonia stream is separated from the effluent stream of a hydro-denitrogenation (HDN) unit.

8. Process for removal of organic and/or inorganic sulfur from an ammonia stream by passing said stream through a fixed bed of sulfur absorbent in a sulfur absorber and withdrawing a sulfur-free ammonia stream, wherein said sulfur absorbent is a catalyst having a total nickel content in reduced form in the range 10 to 70 wt % with the balance being a carrier material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesium alumina spinel, silica, titania, magnesia, zirconia and mixtures thereof, wherein prior to passing said ammonia stream through the fixed bed of sulphur absorbent said stream is admixed with a hydrogen stream.

9. Process according to claim 8 , wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to ammonia in said ammonia stream after admixing with hydrogen is in the range of 0.001 to 1.

10. Process for the production of hydrogen comprising:

(i) mixing a sulfur-free ammonia stream with a hydrocarbon feedstock to form a mixed stream, the sulfur-free ammonia stream being obtained by passing an ammonia stream through a fixed bed of sulfur absorbent in a sulfur absorber, wherein said sulfur absorbent is a catalyst having a total nickel content in reduced form in the range of 10 to 70 wt % with the balance being a carrier material selected from the group consisting of alumina, magnesium alumina spinel, silica, titania, magnesia, zirconia and mixtures thereof;

(ii) passing said mixed stream through a reforming stage and withdrawing a hydrogen-rich synthesis gas;

(iii) passing said hydrogen-rich synthesis gas through a water-gas-shift conversion stage for further enrichment in hydrogen and withdrawing an enriched hydrogen stream; and

(iv) passing said enriched hydrogen stream through a hydrogen purification stage and withdrawing a purified hydrogen product.

11. Process according to claim 10 , wherein said ammonia stream is a stream separated from an effluent of a hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) unit.

12. Process according to claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock of step (i) is passed through an adiabatic pre-reforming stage prior to mixing with said sulfur-free ammonia stream.

13. Process according to claim 10 , wherein the reforming stage of step (ii) is selected from the group consisting of fired steam reforming, autothermal reforming and convection reforming.

14. Process according to claim 10 , wherein prior to mixing the sulfur-free ammonia stream with a hydrocarbon feedstock, part of said sulfur-free ammonia stream is passed through an ammonia cracking stage to form a hydrogen rich stream and said stream is then combined with the hydrogen rich stream from the reforming stage or the water gas shift conversion stage prior to the final hydrogen purification.

15. Process according to claim 10 , wherein the final purification stage of step (iv) is conducted in one or more PSA-units.