Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from a feed gas stream. H2S in the feed gas stream is converted to elemental sulfur in a Claus unit. At least a part of the gas stream obtained is contacted with an aqueous lean absorbing medium in an absorption zone at a pressure between 0.9 and 2 bara. The aqueous lean absorbing medium used comprises one or more amines chosen from: —a polyamine in the absence of tertiary amine functionalities having a pKa sufficient to neutralize carbamic acid, the polyamine having at least one primary amine functionality having a pKa smaller than 10.0 at 25° C., —a polyamine in the absence of tertiary amine functionalities having a pKa sufficient to neutralize carbamic acid, the polyamine having at least one secondary amine functionality having a pKa for each sorbing nitrogen smaller than 10.0 at 25° C. The process is improved as compared to a process involving Claus off-gas treatment with (activated) MDEA.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from a feed gas stream. H2S in the feed gas stream is converted to elemental sulfur in a Claus unit. At least a part of the gas stream obtained is contacted with an aqueous lean absorbing medium in an absorption zone at a pressure between 0.9 and 2 bara. The aqueous lean absorbing medium used comprises one or more amines chosen from: —a polyamine in the absence of tertiary amine functionalities having a pKa sufficient to neutralize carbamic acid, the polyamine having at least one primary amine functionality having a pKa smaller than 10.0 at 25° C., —a polyamine in the absence of tertiary amine functionalities having a pKa sufficient to neutralize carbamic acid, the polyamine having at least one secondary amine functionality having a pKa for each sorbing nitrogen smaller than 10.0 at 25° C. The process is improved as compared to a process involving Claus off-gas treatment with (activated) MDEA.