Beavon Sulfur Removal Process for Claus Plant Tail Gas

The Beavon sulfur removal process for the cleanup of Claus plant tail gas is a two-step process in which the sulfur contaminants are first catalytically hydrolyzed and/or hydrogenated to hydrogen sulfide and the hydrogen sulfide is then converted to elemental sulfur and recovered in a Stretford process unit. Commercial plants reduce the concentration of sulfur compounds as hydrogen sulfide in the tail gas from 1-3 vol % to less than 100 ppm. The treated gas contains less than 1 ppm hydrogen sulfide. The chemistry, design criteria, operating experience, and economics of the process are discussed.