Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing hydrogen sulfide gas from natural gas by contacting a flow of sour natural gas containing hydrogen sulfide gas with a scavenging agent including a group IIA metal hydroxide such as calcium hydroxide for a sufficient amount of time to form calcium sulfide and water to yield natural gas that is substantially depleted of hydrogen sulfide gas. Sour natural gas may be percolated through a column containing a scavenging agent such as calcium hydroxide suspended as a fine particulate in water or a bed of dry calcium hydroxide granules. The scavenging agent may be periodically or continuously replenished with fresh scavenging agent rich in the selected group IIA metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A controlled air incinerator includes a primary and secondary combustion chamber. Combustion by-products from the primary chamber are exhausted to the secondary chamber. In the secondary chamber a source of auxilliary heat is provided to maintain the temperature in that chamber at a point which is sufficiently high to fully combust any particulate and unwanted gaseous matter. The secondary combustion vessel is provided with a baffle means for increasing the residence time of combustion by-products in the secondary chamber. The baffle means comprises an arch preferably oriented concave downwardly, the inlet to the secondary chamber being situated beneath the arch. The baffle means means increases residence time and increases the turbulence of gases passing through the secondary chamber.