H2S production 2

[maxnystrom]

Hello!

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone has any good resources for the production of H2S from molten sulfur and hydrogen. All the resources I find refer to the treatment of H2S or the conversion of H2S to hydrogen and elemental sulfur. I am looking for the capital costs or installation cost for the process together with the capacity. I know it is a bit unusual but would need the H2S for another process. Many thanks!

 

[vt2012]

Section 4.1 of this paper might point you in the right direction:

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14356007.a13_467/full

 

[EmmanuelTop]

Get in touch with Bechtel, Unitel, or JGC - there are commercial processes for H2s production from Sulfur and Hydrogen. See:

http://www.bechtel.com/bhts/sulfur/hydrogen-sulfide-production-unit/

http://www.jgc.com/en/02_business/03_tech_innovation/01_gas_petro_chemi/hydrogen_sulfide.html

Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE

 

[EdStainless]

Since burning S is often the first step in making sulfuric acid.
Lots of info out there.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[zdas04]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but the title of it left me gobsmacked. I've spent a whole career on the periphery of activities to convert H2S to anything non-toxic (mostly elemental sulfur) and now someone is talking about how to make it. Could someone share an example of how H2S can be used in a commercial process?

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[EdStainless]

Hydrogen Sulfide - H2S - is used in metallurgy for the preparation of metallic sulfides. It is also used in the preparation of phosphors, oil additives, and as an analytical reagent in chemical analysis. It is in metals separation, removal of metallic impurities and for reaction with numerous functional organic compounds.
It is also commonly used in paper making.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[zdas04]

Thank you. Is it easier to create it than to transport it? Seems like a lot of folks in Oil & Gas spend a lot of money getting rid of H2S for folks in metal processing to have to make it.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[EdStainless]

It is very difficult to transport (corrosive and poisonous) so it is usually made on demand for applications using it.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[georgeverghese]

As a process engineer with Fluor Australia, we supervised the design and installation of a 64tpd H2S generation unit within a large hydromet nickel refinery in Western Australia late 1990s'. H2S is used for the precipitation of nickel and cobalt sulfides from solution as an intermediate step prior to conversion to sulphate and subsequent precipitation / reduction to nickel and cobalt powder with a proprietory donor solvent (Cyanex 272 in tributyl phosphate) provided under license by American Cynamid. Dont remember now who the H2S plant designer was - could have been Lurgi.

 

[zdas04]

Thanks guys.

Maxnystrom, sorry for hijacking your thread, but this was a really interesting diversion for me. Hopefully it can get back on track now.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[moltenmetal]

The trouble with H2S is safe transport. It's as hazardous as HCN...

Yes Zdas04, it is strange- to see one industry expending tons of effort to remove H2S and other sulphur species from natural gas and petroleum, and another making it on purpose! But the use is a tiny fraction of the amount being removed from gas and petroleum. Whether it makes sense to make it on site or buy it in, depends on the tonnage being used and the proximity to sources.

 

[maxnystrom]

Thank you all for the answers! Will look into them.

zdas04, no problem! my process concept is metallurgical indeed and is used for precipitation.

 

[EdStainless]

remember at one time people mined pure S, I have been to a number of these sites.
Then as refiners started pulling S out of fuels they were willing to give it away to get rid of it and the commercial price of S collapsed.
In a way this concept of turning a waste stream into a product is the basis of the modern integrated chemical plant.

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P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

 

[zdas04]

Amoco's Whitney Canyon Gas Plant in SW Wyoming made a lot more money selling sulfur from H2S processing into the fertilizer market than they made from selling the gas in the early 1980's. When the sulfur price collapsed, the economics of the plant got sketchy and was shut down in 2007 and disassembled in 2011. The scale of the sulfur extraction was impressive.

[bold]David Simpson, PE[/bold]
MuleShoe Engineering

In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual. Galileo Galilei, Italian Physicist

 

[maxnystrom]

Thank you all for your replies. I was in contact with Uniteltech and got a price estimate. For future reference:
H2S production facility
1. 13 metric ton per day H2S Capacity
2. 98.5 vol% H2S purity (min)
3. 1.5 vol% H2 concentration (max)
4. 5 ppmw S concentration (max)
5. H2S delivery pressure and temperature: 6 bar,g @ 45-50 °C

The estimated cost of the unit (ISBL) is $ 5,500,000 (+25%/-15%); Ex-Works Joliet, IL,
USA.

The cost estimate provided does not include the following:
1. Civil work including site improvements, grading, and foundations. Unitel will provide
foundation load requirements.
2. Utility systems including steam, cooling water, nitrogen, instrument air, boiler feed
water.
3. Waste treatment and disposal systems. A thermal oxidizer or flare system is
required for handling normal and emergency vents.
4. Main sulfur storage tank. Unitel will provide a day tank on the modular unit from
which sulfur will be fed to the reactor. A main sulfur storage tank along with auxiliary
systems is not included.
5. Piping and pipe racks from OSBL systems to the ISBL modular system.
6. Electrical connection from facility MCC to modular system primary power distribution
panel. A single feeder will be required with a capacity on the order of 120 kW (400
V/ 3 ϕ / 50 Hz).
7. Hydrogen supply.
8. Transportation.
9. Taxes and duties of any kind.

 

[moltenmetal]

Have these guys ever built such a unit before? Did they give a list of references for previous H2S generation projects?

 

[poli60]

@maxnystrom: Do you know the distance of your plant site from the nearest oil refinery/gas plant?

 

[maxnystrom]

They have built installations in US, Europe and Asia, no list though.

The project is still in concept phase but as Finland only has two oil refineries, the closest is 380 km away.

 

[moltenmetal]

Just curious if they've ever built a H2S generation facility, anywhere. You'd want to know that...

 

[EmmanuelTop]

JGC website says 2 units built, one in progress. Not sure for Uniteltech and Bechtel.

Dejan IVANOVIC
Process Engineer, MSChE