Sulfur Recovery in Claus-Kiln Process

In the Claus process, part of the Hydrogen Sulfide is burnt with air to form
Sulfur Dioxide, and the Sulfur Dioxide then reacts with the remaining Hydrogen
Sulfide, at about 300oC in the presence of a catalyst, to form Sulfur. The two
stages of the Hydrogen Sulfide conversion maybe represented by the following
equations:

2H2S + 3 O2 ------------------ 2 SO2 + 2 H2O

SO2 + 2 H2S ------------- 3 S + 2 H2O

Efficiency of Sulfur recovery plant depends upon the quantity of H 2S burning, if

it is higher, then more SO2 will be emitted through the chimney and if it is
lower then more H2S will be emitted, therefore optimum quantity of air is
required to get proper ratio. The input gas quantity to Clauskiln also varies
which depends upon no. of charges added in furnaces as charging is done in
batch mode; depending upon CS2 production in furnace.

Now our aim is to study the Claus process which is being used to recover
Sulphur from tail gases. The efficiency is very less (around 70%) in charcoal
based CS2 plant against 98% achieved in gas based CS2 plant. In India all CS2
plants are of charcoal based. Therefore lot of scope is there to improve the
efficiency of clauskiln plant and protect environmental aspects.

Our work plan is as follows

1. First and foremost we will make a material balance of the entire CS2
plant. This gives us the theoretical estimation of H2S generation.

2. We will assume that there will 90% recovery and calculate Sulfur
recovery.
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3. Now we compare the theoretical Sulfur recovery with the actual one that
is based on lab data.

4. Then we will study the process and will design a convertor.

5. We will study the type of catalyst to be used, quantity of catalyst and the
optimal process temperature.

6. We will also consider process hindrances like CO2 formation because of

the presence of CS2.

7. Burner efficiency is also one of the drawbacks here. We will search for
alternatives regarding better material of construction.

8. Overall we want to make a Hazard and Operability study(HAZOP) of

entire CS2 plant.