Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
(OP)
I am installing a small (lab sized) steam methane reformer which will run on bottled LPG. Unfortunately where we're located there isn't a mercaptan-free LPG supply. So we'll need to remove ethyl mercaptans & tert-butyl mercaptans so as not to poison the reformer catalyst. I'm looking for ideas as to how to take the mercaptans out. We've been looking at various options, some kind of zeolite removal system or some kind of gas sweetening catalyst (like this http://www.chemicalproductsokc.com/PERCO.html). Part of the problem is how to get rid of the sulphur even after we've stripped it – our lab is in a city so it's not possible to discharge even very low flow rate of sulphur containing gases. We only have a small budget (compared with oil industry!). I'd welcome any ideas & suggestions regarding low flow rate mercaptan removal.





RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
You can extract mercaptan from LPG pretty effectively with 20 Baume caustic. Without a regen system for the caustic you'll have to run it as batch treater. So you'll have spent caustic to deal with, but if your flow rates and mercaptan removal are low enough it may be manageable.
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
Why not pay a visit to e.g. Johnson-Mathew or Haldor Topsoe. They have pilot plants in various sizes and might help you to overcome practical problems effectively.
Did see pilots in HTAS (Denmark) for SMR catalyst testing. If that fits your objective remains to be seen.
Good luck
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
If you're after a pilot syngas generator rather than just hydrogen, one of the licensors/catalyst companies (Haldor Topsoe, Johnson Matthey, Air Products etc.) or a pilot plant company (www.zeton.com) would be good bets. But there's a lot to this, if your end goal is the hydrogen rather than having your own hydrogen generation technology. Even though people have been making reformers for 80 years, they don't give these things away in Cracker Jack boxes.
If capital is what you're worried about, and it's a short-term use, tube trailers may be your best bet- talk to Air Products.
If you must go it on your own, methanol is a far better choice than LPG- you can reform it at very low temperatures.
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
RE: Lab sized LPG mercaptan removal problem
in summary there are several options available. it all depends how you want to deal with this problem and how much you can pay for that. i hope this will help.
Regards,