Q & A > Question Details
We are looking for a non hydrotreating based technology to decrease condensate sulfur content to lower than 200 ppm. There is a condensate stream in our refinery in which its sulfur content decreases from 3300 ppmw to 1000 ppmw by caustic wash and we need a further decrease of sulfur content to minus 200 ppm, but not with hydro desulfurization. Please advise.
 
Answers
12/06/2016 A: utkarsh mishra, Ingenero Technologies, utkarsh1612mishra@gmail.com
I feel it will be very useful if can do a qualitative analysis of sulphur species because above mentioned amine absorbing method can deal only with H2S form of sulphur while caustic merox method usually remove mercaptan form sulphur..but if the residual 1000 ppm sulphur belongs to other categories than H2S and mercaptan like thiophenes..benzophenes etc..we may have to dig deeper !!!!
13/11/2015 A: Egbert van Hoorn, Hocon B V, Egbertvh@hotmail.com
The normal way would be to treat this condensate stream with an amine stream to remove the H2S. As indicated before, the amine can be regenerated in existing amine facilities (if available).
Further reduction of the sulphur content can be obtained by caustic extraction (Merox process). This will reduce the sulphur content to less than 1 ppm.
25/10/2015 A: Sridhar Balakrishnan, Bharat Oman Refineries Limited , laksrid@yahoo.com
Solid Sorbent process is nowadays becoming the technology for removing organo-sulphur compounds from petroleum hydrocarbons. This could be an alternate process.
24/10/2015 A: Sudhakara Babu Marpudi, Dangote Oil Refinery Company, m_sudhakarababu@yahoo.com
Amine treatment has replaced the Caustic wash process for many streams. Inexpensive Amine regeneration process has the advantage over Caustic treatment process. However this system needs to be designed to suit the requirements. Was this option explored?
21/10/2015 A: Krishna Rao Pulugurti, Retired/Consultant, pkrao2012@yahoo.com
It looks like tthe mercaptan sulfur is high after caustic wash. If so, I have some process ideas which remove mercaptan sulfur down to less than 1 ppm even from 5000 ppm. This does nor require explosive gases and catalysts and works at ambient temperature. If you are interested to develop the process, please write to me at pkrao2012@yahoo.com