Molecular Sieve Sulfur Composite for Heavy Metal Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for removing heavy metals from hydrocarbon gas streams, such as arsenic, lead, and mercury, are inefficient due to low capacities of available absorbents, posing environmental and health risks, particularly for young children and fetuses.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a composition of a molecular sieve comprising alumina, silica, and iron, combined with sulfur, is used to contact hydrocarbon gas streams, effectively reducing heavy metal content by forming iron sulfide, copper sulfide, or zinc sulfide, which enhances mercury removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional absorbents are used to remove heavy metals from hydrocarbon gas streams, then the process is simple and easy to operate, but the removal capacity is low and effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite absorbent material consisting of molecular sieve combined with sulfur. The molecular sieve component provides structural framework and selective adsorption sites, while sulfur provides chemisorption capacity for heavy metals. This composite structure achieves high removal capacity for multiple heavy metals (mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc, barium) while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The molecular sieve used in the invention is a porous material with controlled pore sizes and high surface area. The porous structure provides numerous active sites for heavy metal adsorption and facilitates gas diffusion. The specific pore architecture enables selective capture of heavy metal species from the hydrocarbon gas stream while maintaining high throughput capacity.
2Quantity of substance
If existing absorbents are used for heavy metal capture, then the process operation is straightforward, but the absorbent capacity is low requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical and physical parameters of the absorbent material by combining molecular sieve with sulfur. This creates new chemical properties including enhanced surface reactivity, adjusted pore characteristics, and improved thermal stability. These parameter changes result in higher absorbent capacity and extended service life, reducing replacement frequency while maintaining simple operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process achieves significant mercury removal, with treated streams showing less than 5 weight % of initial mercury content, demonstrating improved capacity and effectiveness compared to traditional absorbents.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a hydrocarbon gas stream comprising a heavy metal with a composition comprising a molecular sieve and sulfur
Implementation Method 2
forming iron sulfide, copper sulfide, or zinc sulfide, which enhances mercury removal efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A process is disclosed for removing heavy metals from a hydrocarbon gas stream by contacting the hydrocarbon gas stream, which contains a heavy metal and less than 10 ppm oxidizing compounds, with a composition containing a molecular sieve and sulfur resulting in a treated stream containing less heavy metal than the hydrocarbon gas stream; wherein the molecular sieve contains alumina, silica, and iron, and optionally copper and zinc. Optionally, the hydrocarbon gas stream can also contain a sulfur compound.