초록 ▼

A method is provided for reconditioning a hydrogen sulfide removal system, such as a Stretford process system in which elemental sulfur is formed, after the system has become contaminated with sulfur-feeding bacteria to an extent that operation thereof is substantially impaired. The method includes

A method is provided for reconditioning a hydrogen sulfide removal system, such as a Stretford process system in which elemental sulfur is formed, after the system has become contaminated with sulfur-feeding bacteria to an extent that operation thereof is substantially impaired. The method includes adding a bactericide to the washing solution employed in the system to destroy the bacteria and adding a surfactant to the solution to remove dead bacteria from the surfaces of particulate sulfur formed in the system so that the particles can agglomerate in the intended manner to enable sulfur removal from the solution.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for reconditioning a hydrogen sulfide gas removal system employing an aqueous washing solution in which hydrogen sulfide is reacted to form elemental sulfur and which has means for agglomerating said particles to enable sulfur removal from said solution for reuse, after said system and said

A method for reconditioning a hydrogen sulfide gas removal system employing an aqueous washing solution in which hydrogen sulfide is reacted to form elemental sulfur and which has means for agglomerating said particles to enable sulfur removal from said solution for reuse, after said system and said solution have become contaminated with living, sulfur-feeding bacteria to an extent that normal operations of said sulfur removal means and of said solution regenerating means are substantially impaired, said reconditioning method comprising the steps of: (a) contacting said sulfur-feeding bacteria in said solution with a bactericidal agent to destroy substantially all of said sulfur-feeding bacteria; and (b) contacting said sulfur particles in said solution with a surfactant to remove a sufficient number of destroyed sulfur-feeding bacteria from surfaces of said sulfur particles to enable said particles to agglomerate in said sulfur removal means; wherein said bactericidal agent is sufficiently water soluble to allow the dissolving of a bacterially lethal concentration of said bactericidal agent into said washing solution, wherein said surfactant is nonionic and, at least, partially water soluble, and wherein both said bactericidal agent and said surfactant are substantially (1) stable at the conditions existant within said washing solution, (2) innocuous to the oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur, (3) innocuous to the regeneration of said washing solution with oxygen, (4) innocuous to the recovery of product sulfur and (5) chemically nonreactive or decomposable within the washing solution except in cases where essentially all products of reaction and/or decomposition are substantially innocuous to the environment and substantially innocuous to the hydrogen sulfide removal system.