Title: Methanol thiolation: a feasible process solution for H₂S recovery in refineries

Authors: Mohammad Reza Shabani; Mohammad Ali Moosavian; Sayed Javid Royaee; Yahya Zamani

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ' Faculty of Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran ' Petroleum Refining Department, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Azadi Complex West BLvd., Tehran, Iran ' Gas Technologies Department, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, Azadi Complex West BLvd., Tehran, Iran

Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide and methanol can react with each other in the methanol thiolation reaction to produce methanethiol. In this paper, the methanol thiolation process is investigated to remove H₂S in refineries. A feasibility study to replace sulphur recovery units in refineries with a methanol thiolation unit was conducted. The methanol thiolation process is simulated, and concept of process is developed. Also, the main equipment is sized, the capital cost is estimated, the operating cost is calculated, and the financial parameters are evaluated for the methanol thiolation unit. The financial results are compared with a conventional process consisting of amine and sulphur recovery unit (SRU). The result of the economic evaluation of purposed units shows that capital cost reduction of 70%, an operating cost increase of 95%, and an internal rate of 79.7%. The above results showed that the mentioned unit is feasible due to the economical evaluation point of view. [Received: August 3, 2020; Accepted: October 26, 2020]

Keywords: methanol thiolation; sulphur recovery; off-gas; hydrogen sulphide; refinery.

DOI: 10.1504/IJOGCT.2021.118809

International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology, 2021 Vol.28 No.4, pp.486 - 505

Received: 21 Mar 2020
Accepted: 26 Oct 2020
Published online: 08 Nov 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article