Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a sorption based SO2 selective crosslinked polyionic liquid system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a steam swept membrane tail gas treatment system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.

Abstract: A membrane module includes a housing. The housing includes a housing, comprising: a first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, and a second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes different from the first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes. The first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a first length, and the second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a second length that is at least 1.1 times greater than the first length. The membrane module can be used in separation methods, such as membrane distillation methods.

Abstract: A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a sour gas is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing the sour gas to a membrane separation unit having a carbon dioxide-selective membrane that comprises a perfluoropolymer, wherein the sour gas comprises carbon dioxide and at least 1 mol % hydrogen sulfide; separating the sour gas using the carbon dioxide-selective membrane in the membrane separation stage to obtain hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas and hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas, wherein the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas has a hydrogen sulfide concentration of at least 20 mol %, and wherein the hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas comprises carbon dioxide; and processing the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas in a sulfur recovery unit to obtain sulfur.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur and carbon dioxide from a sour gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a sour gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the hydrogen sulfide from the carbon dioxide in the membrane separation unit to obtain a retentate stream and a first permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur; introducing the permeate stream to an amine absorption unit; and processing the permeate stream in the amine absorption unit to produce an enriched carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a sour gas is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing the sour gas to a membrane separation unit having a carbon dioxide-selective membrane that comprises a perfluoropolymer, wherein the sour gas comprises carbon dioxide and at least 1 mol % hydrogen sulfide; separating the sour gas using the carbon dioxide-selective membrane in the membrane separation stage to obtain hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas and hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas, wherein the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas has a hydrogen sulfide concentration of at least 20 mol %, and wherein the hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas comprises carbon dioxide; and processing the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas in a sulfur recovery unit to obtain sulfur.

Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur and carbon dioxide from a sour gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a sour gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the hydrogen sulfide from the carbon dioxide in the membrane separation unit to obtain a retentate stream and a first permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur; introducing the permeate stream to an amine absorption unit; and processing the permeate stream in the amine absorption unit to produce an enriched carbon dioxide stream.

Abstract: A method for increasing sulfur recovery from an acid gas feed comprising the steps of introducing the acid gas feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air stream to a Claus process to produce a product gas stream, introducing the product gas stream to a thermal oxidizer to produce a flue gas stream, cooling the flue gas stream to produce a cooled take-off stream, separating the cooled take-off stream into a saturated gas stream, heating the saturated gas stream to produce a membrane gas stream, introducing the membrane gas stream to a membrane sweeping unit, the membrane sweeping unit comprises a membrane, the sulfur dioxide in the membrane gas stream permeates the membrane of the membrane sweeping unit, introducing a sweep air stream, the sweep air stream collects the sulfur dioxide to create the sulfur dioxide enriched air stream.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

Abstract: Composite membranes include a polymer material that is selectively permeable to heavy (C3+) hydrocarbons over methane. The polymer material may be a modified poly(dimethylsilane) having a backbone including dimethylsiloxyl monomers, substituted methylsiloxyl monomers, and internal-network monomers. The substituted methylsiloxyl monomers may include phenylmethylsiloxyl monomers or C5-C10 alkylmethylsiloxyl monomers such as octylmethylsiloxyl monomers. The polymer material may include silicon-alkyl linkages such as Si—(CH2)n—Si, where n?2 that may create a structure that imparts desirable permeability and selectivity characteristics to the composite membrane. The polymer material may be cast onto a porous support material. The composite membranes may be incorporated into systems or methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

Abstract: A method for increasing sulfur recovery from an acid gas feed comprising the steps of introducing the acid gas feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air stream to a Claus process to produce a product gas stream, introducing the product gas stream to a thermal oxidizer to produce a flue gas stream, cooling the flue gas stream to produce a cooled take-off stream, separating the cooled take-off stream into a saturated gas stream, heating the saturated gas stream to produce a membrane gas stream, introducing the membrane gas stream to a membrane sweeping unit, the membrane sweeping unit comprises a membrane, the sulfur dioxide in the membrane gas stream permeates the membrane of the membrane sweeping unit, introducing a sweep air stream, the sweep air stream collects the sulfur dioxide to create the sulfur dioxide enriched air stream.

Abstract: Techniques for treating a natural gas feed stream include receiving a natural gas feed stream that includes one or more acid gases, one or more hydrocarbon fluids, and one or more non-hydrocarbon fluids; circulating the natural gas feed stream to a membrane module; separating, with the membrane module, at least a portion of the one or more acid gases into a permeate stream and at least a portion of the one or more hydrocarbon fluids into a reject stream; circulating the permeate stream to a distillation unit; and separating, in the distillation unit, the one or more acid gases from the one or more non-hydrocarbon fluids.

Abstract: A method for increasing sulfur recovery from an acid gas feed comprising the steps of introducing the acid gas feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air stream to a Claus process to produce a product gas stream, introducing the product gas stream to a thermal oxidizer to produce a flue gas stream, cooling the flue gas stream to produce a cooled take-off stream, separating the cooled take-off stream into a saturated gas stream, heating the saturated gas stream to produce a membrane gas stream, introducing the membrane gas stream to a membrane sweeping unit, the membrane sweeping unit comprises a membrane, the sulfur dioxide in the membrane gas stream permeates the membrane of the membrane sweeping unit, introducing a sweep air stream, the sweep air stream collects the sulfur dioxide to create the sulfur dioxide enriched air stream.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

Abstract: A method for increasing sulfur recovery from an acid gas feed comprising the steps of introducing the acid gas feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air stream to a Claus process to produce a product gas stream, introducing the product gas stream to a thermal oxidizer to produce a flue gas stream, cooling the flue gas stream to produce a cooled take-off stream, separating the cooled take-off stream into a saturated gas stream, heating the saturated gas stream to produce a membrane gas stream, introducing the membrane gas stream to a membrane sweeping unit, the membrane sweeping unit comprises a membrane, the sulfur dioxide in the membrane gas stream permeates the membrane of the membrane sweeping unit, introducing a sweep air stream, the sweep air stream collects the sulfur dioxide to create the sulfur dioxide enriched air stream.

Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

Abstract: Composite membranes include a polymer material that is selectively permeable to heavy (C3+) hydrocarbons over methane. The polymer material may be a modified poly(dimethylsilane) having a backbone including dimethylsiloxyl monomers, substituted methylsiloxyl monomers, and internal-network monomers. The substituted methylsiloxyl monomers may include phenylmethylsiloxyl monomers or C5-C10 alkylmethylsiloxyl monomers such as octylmethylsiloxyl monomers. The polymer material may include silicon-alkyl linkages such as Si—(CH2)n—Si, where n?2 that may create a structure that imparts desirable permeability and selectivity characteristics to the composite membrane. The polymer material may be cast onto a porous support material. The composite membranes may be incorporated into systems or methods for removing heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas.