Acid Gas Removal
Gases from various refining processes contain hydrogen sulfide. Most hydrogen sulfide in a refinery is formed as a result of conversion processes such as hydrotreating, hydrocracking, cracking and coking operations. It is common to remove this hydrogen sulfide and convert it to elemental sulfur.
Hydrogen sulfide stripped from sour water is combined with sour gas from refining operations. Amine treatment is the most widely used gas treating process. Hydrogen sulfide is absorbed into a solution of amine by counter-current absorption in a tower. Clean gas is returned for refinery use and rich amine is sent to a regenerator where hydrogen sulfide is removed from the amine solution. Lean amine is returned to the absorber and acid gas is sent to sulfur recovery.
