To provide a method for removing H2S and mercaptans from a hydrocarbon stream.
This method for removing sulfur compounds from the hydrocarbon stream comprises bringing the hydrocarbon stream such as an LPG stream into contact with a weakly basic stream such as a sodium bicarbonate stream in an extraction column 2 for extracting H2S and the mercaptans into the basic stream. The basic stream is treated in a reactor 9 containing sulfur- oxidizing microorganisms for converting H2S into sulfur and the mercaptans into disulfides, then the sulfur and the disulfides are separated from the basic stream in a first separation zone 12 and a second separation zone 17, and the purified basic stream can be reused. The treated hydrocarbon stream is purified with an adsorption bed 6 until a point of passing a copper strip test, and meanwhile, the purified basic stream contains ≤0.08 g/l elementary sulfur.
ARENA BLAISE J
JANSSEN ALBERT J
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