Sulphur Degassing

Gas/liquid treating and sulphur processes

Process description
The innovative process is based on bubbling air through the
liquid sulphur. A steam ejector pushes the vent air from the
process to the sulphur recovery unit incinerator (see Figure 1
overleaf).

Three main actions take place in degassing:

1. Stripping of hydrogen sulphide from the liquid by means

of a gas, normally air

2. Conversion of polysulphides to sulphur and hydrogen

sulphide

H 2Sx H 2S + S (x-1)
Shell Global Solutions’ sulphur degassing process reduces
the hydrogen sulphide content of produced liquid elemental 3. Oxidation of hydrogen sulphide to sulphur (when air is
sulphur from an initial 300 to 400 ppm down to less used as the stripping gas)
than 10 ppm. This enhances safety and reduces the
H 2 Sx + 1 2 O 2 H 2O + Sx
environmental impact of liquid sulphur.
Sx + XO 2 XSO 2
The Shell Global Solutions advantage XSO 2 + 2XH2S 3XS + 2XH2O

Our sulphur degassing process is the most successful

Recent developments have also made it possible to decrease
commercially applied process, with over 200 units installed
the size of the degasser and to reduce the cost of large-
worldwide. The main attraction of our process is its
capacity installations.
simplicity. It has no moving parts and it requires no catalyst
or additives.
 Vent air to incinerator

Air
Sulphur to storage

Sweep
air

Schematic of the sulphur degassing process.

Please contact Shell Global Solutions for further information.

Europe +31 70 377 2470
North America +1 281 544 8844
Asia Pacific +60 3 2170 3888
Email us at gastreating@shell.com
Or visit our website at
www.shell.com/globalsolutions

Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the

Shell Group. In this material, the expressions “Shell” and “Shell Global Solutions”
are sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in
general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company.

The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and

must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisions you may
make. Shell and Shell Global Solutions are not liable for any action you may take as
a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffered by you
as a result of you taking this action. Furthermore, these materials do not in any way
constitute an offer to provide specific services. Some services may not be available in
certain countries or political subdivisions thereof.

Copyright © 2008 Shell Global Solutions International BV. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Shell Global
Solutions International BV.

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ADIP-X and Sulfinol-X – New Regenerable
Acid-Gas Removal Processes
Gas/liquid treating and sulphur processes

The Sulfinol-X process

Shell Global Solutions’ Sulfinol-X‡ process is a regenerable
amine process for acid-gas removal that uses a mixture of
two or more alkanolamines – typically a base amine such as
MDEA or di-isopropanolamine (Sulfinol-X) and an accelerator.
The capacity for removal of carbonyl sulphide, mercaptans
and organic sulphides from gas streams is excellent because
of the improved solubility of these compounds in the
solvent – a mixture of water, sulpholane and one or more
alkanolamines. The Sulfinol process can achieve a higher
carbon dioxide loading capacity. It facilitates the design of
smaller absorber columns with fewer trays.

The Sulfinol-X process is highly suitable for the following

The ADIP-X process
applications:
Shell Global Solutions’ ADIP-X‡ process is a regenerable
• removal of hydrogen sulphide, carbon dioxide, carbonyl
amine process for acid-gas removal that utilises a mixture
sulphide, mercaptans and organic sulphides from gas
of two or more alkanolamines – typically a base amine
streams; and
such as methyl di-ethanolamine (MDEA) and an accelerator.
• revamping of deep/bulk carbon dioxide removal plants.
The ADIP-X process can achieve a higher carbon dioxide
loading capacity than single-amine solvents.

The process is highly suitable for the following applications:

• removal of hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from

natural gas, refinery gas and synthesis gas streams;
• bulk removal of carbon dioxide from gas streams; and
• deep removal of carbon dioxide from gas streams.
ADIP and Sulfinol are Shell trademarks.
‡
Please contact Shell Global Solutions for further information.
Europe +31 70 377 2470
North America +1 281 544 8844
Asia Pacific +60 3 2170 3888
Email us at gastreating@shell.com
Or visit our website at
www.shell.com/globalsolutions

Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the

Shell Group. In this material, the expressions “Shell” and “Shell Global Solutions”
are sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in
general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company.

The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and

must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisions you may
make. Shell and Shell Global Solutions are not liable for any action you may take as
a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffered by you
as a result of you taking this action. Furthermore, these materials do not in any way
constitute an offer to provide specific services. Some services may not be available in
certain countries or political subdivisions thereof.

Copyright © 2008 Shell Global Solutions International BV. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Shell Global
Solutions International BV.

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Shell Claus Off-Gas Treatment Process
Gas/liquid treating and sulphur processes

Process description
The SCOT unit hydrotreats the tail gas of a Claus unit so
that the sulphur in the gas can be recovered using an amine
solvent and recycled into the Claus unit.

The tail gas is heated to a suitable reaction temperature

(in either a heater or an in-line burner) with hydrogen or a
mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The hydrogen
necessary for the reaction is naturally available in the
tail gas, but if additional hydrogen is required, it can be
generated by the special sub-stoichiometric SCOT burner or
added from an existing supply.

The combined gas stream passes over a catalyst, where

The Shell Claus off-gas treatment (SCOT‡) process is used
sulphur dioxide and other sulphur species such as carbonyl
extensively to clean up Claus sulphur recovery plant tail-gas
sulphide, carbon disulphide and sulphur are converted to
streams to meet environmental requirements where the overall
hydrogen sulphide. The gas passes into a waste heat boiler
sulphur recovery must exceed 99.8%. The SCOT process,
where it is cooled during steam generation. The gas from the
the most widely selected tail-gas cleanup process, sets
waste heat boiler cools and conditions further in a quench
the industry standard when tail-gas recoveries of this level
column that removes surplus water. This water is typically sent
are required. Today, more than 200 SCOT units operate
to a sour-water stripper.
throughout the world.
An amine absorber column preferentially extracts the
With a standard SCOT unit, an overall sulphur recovery
hydrogen sulphide from the gas stream. Solvent selection
efficiency of more than 99.8% can be achieved, but the
is based upon the need to co-absorb a small quantity of
standard SCOT process can be enhanced to meet more-
carbon dioxide. The hydrogen sulphide concentration in
stringent environmental requirements. A hydrogen sulphide
the gas leaving the absorber is reduced to 10–300 ppm
specification of 10 ppmv in the SCOT vent gas can be
by counter-current contact with the amine solution. The
achieved by using a low concentration of an additive in
stripped hydrogen sulphide is then recycled to the Claus unit.
the solvent.
The absorber–regenerator system can stand alone, or be
integrated into a plant-wide amine system.
 Schematic of the SCOT process.
Optional
reducing gas
Lean To Claus unit
Substoic amine
burner or Reactor Absorber
line heater Stripper
Quench
column
Claus unit
Condensate to Rich Incinerator
Off-gas sour water stripper amine stack

Waste heat
boiler

Partially loaded amine

to another absorber

SCOT process advantages Low-temperature SCOT process

• One of the highest achievable sulphur recovery efficiencies
• A turndown ratio to less than 10% of design throughput
• Flexibility – the process can operate over a wide range of
sulphur intakes. Changes in the Claus tail-gas composition
have only a small effect on the overall sulphur recovery
• No secondary pollution or waste disposal problems
• The unit requires little operational attention and has a high
level of reliability (less than 1% unscheduled downtime in
Shell-advised units)
• A Claus unit with two catalytic stages is sufficient
• The SCOT unit is not sensitive to ammonia and does not
require complete ammonia destruction in its upstream Claus
unit for trouble-free operation
For new installations, the design of a SCOT tail-gas treating
unit based on a lower reactor inlet temperature enables the
use of a saturated high-pressure steam preheater rather than
a fired or a superheated-steam heater, which results in a less
complex system for operations and maintenance.
Please contact Shell Global Solutions for further information.
Europe +31 70 377 2470
North America +1 281 544 8844
Asia Pacific +60 3 2170 3888
Email us at gastreating@shell.com

• SCOT lean amine can be sent to other absorbers for uses
such as acid gas enrichment
• SCOT rich amine has low acid gas loading and can be
used as a semi-lean solvent in other process absorbers
Or visit our website at
www.shell.com/globalsolutions
Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the
Shell Group. In this material, the expressions “Shell” and “Shell Global Solutions”
are sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in
general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company.

The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and

must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisions you may
make. Shell and Shell Global Solutions are not liable for any action you may take as
a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffered by you
as a result of you taking this action. Furthermore, these materials do not in any way
constitute an offer to provide specific services. Some services may not be available in
certain countries or political subdivisions thereof.

Copyright © 2008 Shell Global Solutions International BV. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Shell Global
Solutions International BV.

SCOT is a Shell trademark.

‡
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Shell-Paques Process – Biological Removal
of Hydrogen Sulphide from Gas Streams
Gas/liquid treating and sulphur processes

In this process, a gas stream containing hydrogen sulphide

contacts an aqueous soda solution containing sulphur
bacteria in an absorber. The soda absorbs the hydrogen
sulphide and is then transferred to a regenerator consisting
of an aerated atmospheric tank where hydrogen sulphide is
biologically converted to elemental sulphur. Sulphur may be
recovered as a moist filter cake or as pure liquid sulphur.

Process advantages

Simplicity of operation
• Three, easy-to-control operating parameters
• Minimal supervision requirements
Amazing process – startling results
• Large buffering capacity to minimise the impact of upsets
The Shell-Paques process for biological gas desulphurisation
• Wide turndown ratio in gas flow and/or hydrogen
integrates gas purification with sulphur recovery in one
sulphide inlet concentration
process unit. Hydrogen sulphide removal efficiencies greater
than 99.8% can be reliably achieved, and treated gas Simplicity of design
can contain less than 4 ppm of hydrogen sulphide. The
• No upstream sour gas compression required
technology has been developed by Shell Global Solutions
International BV and Paques BV. • Capable of integrating gas purification with
sulphur recovery
The technology eliminates many of the historical challenges
• No carbon or particulate filtration required
associated with redox chemistry through the completely non-
fouling, or hydrophilic, nature of the created bio-sulphur. The • Solvent regeneration does not require heat input
process is ideally suited to environmentally sensitive locations
Intrinsic safety
where flaring, incineration or other combustion options are
undesirable. Its application range is from 0.1 to 50 t/d of • Hydrogen sulphide is not concentrated at any point within
sulphur per unit. the process
• Hydrogen sulphide is physically bound to the gas-
scrubbing solution
Reliability Paques
• Simple equipment Paques focuses on biological conversion of inorganic
• The thiobacillus bacteria used in this technology are components such as sulphur and nitrogen compounds, as well
naturally occurring, robust, self-sustaining and self- as on technology applications for recovering valuable base
regulating metals. The company operates in industries including mining,
metallurgy, oil and gas, synthetic fibres and chemicals.
• There are no plugging and blocking problems, as the
biological sulphur is hydrophilic

Cost
• There are potential capital and operating cost advantages
over regular redox processes for most grass-roots and
facility retrofit applications

Process applications
• Natural gas (direct treatment) within the pressure range
0.1 to 90 barg
• Amine regenerator acid gas, refinery or chemical
plant gases
• Synthesis gas
• Fuel gas
• Low-pressure and associated gas ADIP, SCOT and Sulfinol are Shell trademarks.
‡

• Oxygen-containing waste gases that cannot be successfully

treated with other solvents
Cost estimates
Capital and operating cost estimates can be provided on
request. Process parameters, including pressure, temperature,
flow rate and composition, are needed to generate budget
estimates.
Shell Global Solutions – worldwide
Over 100 years of gas-treating experience available within
the Shell Group enables Shell Global Solutions to provide
design, technical service and research and development
support for gas and liquid treating, sulphur processes,
adsorption, catalytic conversion and other environmental
processes. Technologies available for licence include ADIP‡,
Sulfinol‡, SCOT‡ and sulphur degassing technologies.
Please contact Shell Global Solutions for further information.
Europe +31 70 377 2470
North America +1 281 544 8844
Asia Pacific +60 3 2170 3888
Email us at gastreating@shell.com
Or visit our website at
www.shell.com/globalsolutions
Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the
Shell Group. In this material, the expressions “Shell” and “Shell Global Solutions”
are sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in
general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company.
The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and
must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisions you may
make. Shell and Shell Global Solutions are not liable for any action you may take as
a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffered by you
as a result of you taking this action. Furthermore, these materials do not in any way
constitute an offer to provide specific services. Some services may not be available in
certain countries or political subdivisions thereof.
Copyright © 2008 Shell Global Solutions International BV. All rights reserved. No
part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical including by photocopy, recording or information
storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Shell Global
Solutions International BV.

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