| abstract |
Improved processes for treating gas streams containing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, particularly natural gas streams. The processes rely on the availability of a membrane that maintains high hydrogen sulfide/methane selectivity and adequate hydrogen sulfide/carbon dioxide selectivity when measured with multicomponent gas mixtures at high pressure. The processes have three steps: an acid gas removal step, to remove both hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from the primary gas stream; a membrane fractionation step, to separate hydrogen sulfide from carbon dioxide and create a highly hydrogen-sulfide-concentrated fraction; and a sulfur-fixing step. |