This invention relates to processes for selective removal of contaminants from effluent gases. A sulfur dioxide absorption/desorption process for selective removal and recovery of sulfur dioxide from effluent gases utilizes a buffered aqueous absorption solution comprising weak inorganic or organic acids or salts thereof, to selectively absorb sulfur dioxide from the effluent gas. Absorbed sulfur dioxide is subsequently stripped to regenerate the absorption solution and produce a sulfur dioxide-enriched gas. A process for simultaneous removal of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides (NO.sub.x) from effluent gases and recovery of sulfur dioxide utilizes a buffered aqueous absorption solution including a metal chelate to absorb sulfur dioxide and NO.sub.x from the gas and subsequently reducing absorbed NO.sub.x to form nitrogen. A process to control sulfate salt contaminant concentration in the absorption solution involves partial crystallization and removal of sulfate salt crystals.

Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas while removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to remove hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including hydrogen sulfide removal. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using membranes while integrating heat from other existing process streams. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using high temperature tolerant polymer membranes. Oil and/or gas production is increased.

A method and a system to form hydrogen while removing sulfur from an acid gas stream are provided. An exemplary system includes a reaction furnace including a porous burner, an inlet for an oxygen stream into the porous burner, an inlet for the acid gas stream into the porous burner, and a plurality of inlets on the reaction furnace for injecting an inert coolant.

A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

A method of producing hydrogen comprising receiving a sour gas comprising CO.sub.2, H.sub.2S, and ammonia from a sour water stripper; introducing the sour gas to an absorption system to produce an ammonia rich gas and a sulfide rich gas, wherein the ammonia rich gas comprises ammonia and CO.sub.2, and wherein the sulfide rich gas comprises H.sub.2S and CO.sub.2; compressing the ammonia rich gas in a compressing unit to a pressure of 400-600 psig to produce a compressed ammonia rich gas; introducing the compressed ammonia rich gas to an ammonia cracker unit comprising a catalyst to produce a cracked gas, wherein the ammonia cracker unit is characterized by a cracking temperature of 450-550 C., and wherein the cracked gas comprises hydrogen, nitrogen, and CO.sub.2; and introducing the cracked gas to a PSA unit to produce hydrogen and a PSA tail gas, wherein the PSA tail gas comprises nitrogen and CO.sub.2.

A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

The present invention is directed to a process for the removal of aromatic hydrocarbons from a lean acid gas containing less than 20 mol. % of H.sub.2S, comprising:

a) contacting the lean acid gas stream (1) with a H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (29) in a first absorption zone (2) to produce a gas stream depleted in H.sub.2S (3) and an absorbent solution enriched in H.sub.2S (4),

b) introducing the absorbent solution (4) into a non-thermic stripping zone (8) where it is contacted with a stripping gas stream (7) to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in C.sub.4.sup.+ aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (9) and a stripping gas stream enriched in aromatic and C.sub.4.sup.+ aliphatic hydrocarbons (10),

c) contacting the stripping gas stream (10) obtained in step b) with a H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (28) in a second absorption zone (12) to obtain a stripping gas stream depleted in H.sub.2S (13), and an absorbent solution enriched in H.sub.2S (14)

d) introducing the absorbent solution (9) obtained in step b) into a desorption zone (16) wherein the H.sub.2S-selective liquid absorbent solution (17) is recovered and a lean acid gas is produced.

A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.

The invention concerns a method for treating a hydrocarbon feed gas stream containing at least CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2S to recover a high quality purified CO.sub.2 gas stream, comprising a. Separating said hydrocarbon feed gas stream into a sweetened hydrocarbon gas stream, and an acid gas stream; b. Introducing said gas stream into a Claus unit, c. Introducing the tail gas into a hydrogenation reactor and then into a quench contactor of the Tail Gas Treatment Unit (TGTU); d. Contacting said tail gas stream with a non-selective amine-based solvent into a non-selective acid gas absorption unit of the TGTU; e. Sending the off gas to an incinerator; f. Contacting said enriched gas stream (vii) with a selective H.sub.2S-absorption solvent into a selective H.sub.2S-absorption unit thereby recovering a highly purified CO.sub.2 gas stream and a H.sub.2S-enriched gas stream, as well as the device for carrying said method.

A method to recover sulfur comprising the steps of feeding an acid gas stream to a combustion furnace, condensing the cooled furnace stream to produce a first gas stream, feeding the first gas stream to a first adsorber comprises a molecular sieve, feeding the first hot dry gas stream to a first catalytic reactor, cooling the first catalytic outlet stream in a first condenser, feeding the second gas stream to a second adsorber, feeding the second hot dry gas stream to a second catalytic reactor, cooling the second catalytic outlet stream in a second condenser, introducing the third gas stream to a third adsorber, feeding the third hot dry gas stream to a third catalytic reactor to produce a third catalytic outlet stream, and cooling the third catalytic outlet stream in a third condenser to produce a third sulfur stream and a tail gas stream.