H₂S: A hazard or a pathway towards value creation

Sour natural gas compositions can vary over a wide concentration of H₂S and CO₂ and a wide concentration of hydrocarbon components. If the H₂S content exceeds the sales gas specification limit, the excess H₂S must be separated from the sour gas. The removal of H₂S from sour gas is called “sweetening.” The concept of our research is simultaneous catalytic conversion and separation of H₂S. The main objective is studying the feasibility of capturing H₂S followed by its conversion in a liquid phase. In this case, one possible route for H₂S capture is absorption in a primary liquid phase. The absorbed H₂S then can be directly converted in a same unit operation. Bi-phasic homogenous catalytic and/or phase transfer catalytic systems can be used to produce organic materials (e.g. thiols) from H₂S absorbed in the primary liquid phase.