Sulphided Copper Sorbent Production via Thermal Sulphur Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing sulphided copper-containing sorbents for heavy metal removal, particularly mercury, face challenges such as the presence of elemental sulphur during industrial-scale use, leading to operating difficulties, especially in liquid duties, due to the need for sulphur discharge and potential release.
Innovation Solution
A method involving sulphiding a copper-containing sorbent precursor with a hydrogen sulphide and inert gas mixture, followed by a heating step under inert conditions to remove elemental sulphur, ensuring the sorbent is pre-sulphided before exposure to process fluids, using a sulphiding gas stream with controlled hydrogen sulphide concentration and temperature to achieve efficient sulphidation without excessive elemental sulphur formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If sulphiding is performed using hydrogen sulphide at ambient temperature, then sulphidation efficiency is improved, but elemental sulphur is formed leading to operating difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful elemental sulphur is removed from the system by extracting it through a heating step that volatilizes and eliminates the sulphur, preventing it from causing operating difficulties in the sorbent
Solution Approach 2:
A preliminary sulphiding step is performed to achieve high sulphidation efficiency, followed by a subsequent heating step to remove the harmful elemental sulphur that was formed during sulphiding
2Use of energy by moving object
If sulphiding is performed at ambient temperature, then energy consumption is reduced, but elemental sulphur remains in the sorbent causing operational challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The sulphiding is performed preliminarily at ambient temperature to minimize energy consumption, then a controlled heating step is applied to remove elemental sulphur without excessive energy input
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature parameter is changed from ambient during sulphiding to elevated during the heating step, allowing efficient sulphidation at low energy cost followed by elemental sulphur removal at controlled energy input
3Productivity
If high hydrogen sulphide concentration is used, then sulphidation rate is improved, but excessive elemental sulphur is produced
Solution Approach 1:
The excess elemental sulphur produced during high-rate sulphiding is extracted and removed through the heating step, allowing high productivity during sulphiding without being constrained by sulphur accumulation issues
Solution Approach 2:
High concentration hydrogen sulphide is used in a preliminary sulphiding step to maximize sulphidation rate, followed by a heating step to remove the excessive elemental sulphur that was inevitably produced
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 method effectively produces sulphided copper sorbents with low elemental sulphur levels, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing operational challenges, allowing for effective heavy metal recovery from both liquid and gaseous process fluids with improved sorbent stability and mercury absorption capacity.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a sorbent precursor material containing one or more sulphidable copper compounds, with a sulphiding gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide to form a sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material to a heating step in which it is heated to a temperature above that used in the sulphiding step and ≥ 110 °C under an inert gas
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a sulphided copper sorbent is described, comprising the steps of: (i)contacting a sorbent precursor material containing one or more sulphidable copper compounds, with a sulphiding gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide to form a sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material, and (ii) subjecting the sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material to a heating stepin which it is heated to a temperature above that used in the sulphiding step and >=110 ºC,under an inert gas selected from nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, methane, and mixtures thereof, said inert gas optionally comprising hydrogen sulphide. The method provides sulphided copper sorbents that have reduced levels of elemental sulphur.