| abstract |
Improved processes are disclosed for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from feed streams by conversion of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur and water, e.g. Claus process. The feed stream of the present invention is divided into two split streams wherein one is incinerated to form sulfur dioxide in the presence of oxygen. The sulfur dioxide is then separated from the water, nitrogen and other impurities and combined with the other split stream to form a reactor feed which is passed to a sulfur reaction zone for conversion to elemental sulfur. Due to the rejection of water, nitrogen and other impurities from the reactor inlet stream, a higher concentration of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide can be achieved in the sulfur reaction zone. As a result, the processes of the present invention can be used to increase the throughput of existing Claus process plants and reduce the size of new Claus process plants. |