H2S/SO2 removal in the modified‐claus reaction over packed alumina beds

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Abstract
The removal of H2S and SO2 by the modified‐Claus reaction was studied in a computer‐controlled packed bed system over activated alumina catalyst. The reactor system consisted of two 6.35 × 60.96 cm reactors in parallel and was designed to allow for the axial temperature monitoring and side stream sampling. The H2S/SO2 conversion efficiencies were‐evaluated against gas‐hourly space velocity (GHSV) ranging from 100 to 12,000 1/hr at the three typical Claus converter conditions for three sizes of Alcoa S‐100 Claus catalyst. The conditions for defining the kinetic and thermodynamic regimes of the modified‐Claus reaction were reported. The thermodynamic regime was checked and confirmed by the equilibrium predictions of a computer program utilizing the principle of minimization of Gibbs free energy. The possible rate‐controlling mechanism in the kinetic regime and the effects of water vapor on the reaction were discussed.