GB658196A - Process for converting sulphur dioxide to hydrogen sulphide - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrogen sulphide is made by passing a gas-containing sulphur dioxide, oxygen and steam into a producer gas generator packed with carbonaceous material, such as charcoal, coal or coke, maintained at incandescence by the oxygen in the gas, the volume of carbonaceous material maintained at incandescence being substantially smaller than that which would be maintained at incandescence in the same generator where the object was the production of producer gas. According to one embodiment, roaster or other gases containing sulphur dioxide and oxygen are mixed with water vapour and passed through a bed of incandescent carbonaceous material, e.g. in a conventional producer gas generator, in which the area of the bed may be controlled by adjustable tuyeres. In another embodiment, the sulphur dioxide-containing gas is scrubbed with a solution of a compound, e.g. ammonium sulphite, which will absorb sulphur dioxide to form a bisulphite, the solution is treated with an acid, e.g. sulphuric acid, and the sulphur dioxide so obtained is mixed with steam and air and passed through a bed of incandescent carbonaceous material. Specifications 657,045 and 657,088 are referred to. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also passing a gaseous mixture of sulphur dioxide, oxygen and water-vapour through incandescent carbon in a producer gas generator (example B). This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.