This desulfurization device is for desulfurizing a discharge gas which contains sulfur oxides and which was discharged from a device for sulfuric acid production that includes a concentrated-sulfuric-acid production step in which sulfur trioxide gas obtained by oxidizing sulfur dioxide gas is absorbed in an aqueous sulfuric acid solution while supplying water thereto to thereby produce sulfuric acid having a concentration as high as 90 wt % or more but less than 99 wt %, the desulfurization device comprising: a desulfurization tower in which the sulfur oxides are removed from the discharge gas and, simultaneously therewith, dilute sulfuric acid is formed from the sulfur oxides; and a dilute sulfuric acid mixer which, in the concentrated-sulfuric-acid production step, mixes the dilute sulfuric acid with the aqueous sulfuric acid solution.

A system for containing an emission of sulfur trioxide, the system comprising a first pressurized vessel, the first pressurized vessel containing sulfur trioxide, a relief vessel containing a volume of a solvent solution, wherein the solvent solution comprises sulfolane, and a first relief conduit providing a first route of fluid communication between the first pressurized vessel and the relief vessel. A method for containing an emission of sulfur trioxide, the method comprising routing a first relief conduit so as to provide a first route of fluid communication between a first pressurized vessel and a relief vessel, wherein the first pressurized vessel contains sulfur trioxide, wherein the relief vessel contains a volume of a solvent solution, and wherein the solvent solution comprises sulfolane.

An improved process for deacidizing a gaseous mixture with reduced overall energy costs is described. The process involves contacting the gaseous mixture with at least one of a vaporizing compound, a vaporized compound, a vaporizing solution of compound and a vaporized solution of compound, and forming a liquid or solid reaction product that can be easily separated from the gaseous mixture.

The present invention is directed to the removal of mercury in a gas dehydration process using thermally table chemical additives. In the process a complexing agent is added to a recirculated glycol solvent as part of the glycol solution feed to the dehydration liquid contactor and recirculated continuously with the glycol solvent. The complexing agent selectively reacts with mercury in the wet natural gas to remove the mercury from the dry natural gas product.

An improved process for deacidizing a gaseous mixture with reduced overall energy costs is described. The process involves contacting the gaseous mixture with at least one of a vaporizing compound, a vaporized compound, a vaporizing solution of compound and a vaporized solution of compound, and forming a liquid or solid reaction product that can be easily separated from the gaseous mixture.

We have now discovered a novel process for the removal or extraction of metal species from a variety of solid, liquid or gas phase materials. Metal species may be removed by contacting the material suspected of containing one or more metals with a thiolated fatty acid or ester thereof for a period of time and under conditions effective far the sequestration of the metal species by the thiolated fatty acid or ester thereof. The thiolated fatty acid or ester thereof comprising sequestered metal species may then be separated and recovered from the treated material. Moreover, following the treatment of aqueous liquids or mixtures, or suspensions or dispersions of solids in aqueous liquids, the resultant thiolated fatty acid or ester thereof comprising the sequestered metal species is insoluble in water and forms a separate layer from the aqueous liquid phase, which layer may be readily removed.

In one aspect, the invention provides a method for the capture of at least one acid gas in a composition, the release of said gas from said composition, and the subsequent regeneration of said composition for re-use, said method comprising performing, in order, the steps of: (a) capturing the at least one acid gas by contacting said at least one gas with a capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent; (b) releasing said at least one acid gas by adding at least one protic solvent or agent to said composition; and (c) regenerating the capture composition by partial or complete removal of said added protic solvent or agent from said composition. Optionally, said capture composition comprising at least one salt of a carboxylic acid and at least one water-miscible non-aqueous solvent additionally comprises water or another protic solvent. In another aspect, the invention envisages a composition which additionally comprises at least one protic solvent or agent and release of the at least one acid gas is achieved solely by subjecting the composition to the application of heat or stripping with a stream of air. The method is typically applied to the capture and subsequent release of carbon dioxide, and offers a convenient and simple process which uses inexpensive consumables and offers significant advantages over the methods of the prior art.

The present invention is directed to the removal of mercury in a gas dehydration process using thermally table chemical additives. In the process a complexing agent is added to a recirculated glycol solvent as part of the glycol solution feed to the dehydration liquid contactor and recirculated continuously with the glycol solvent. The complexing agent selectively reacts with mercury in the wet natural gas to remove the mercury from the dry natural gas product.

The quick response system and method for removing volatile compounds from contaminated water disclosed herein may comprise, at least, a preconditioning stage, a stripping stage, a condenser stage, a refrigeration stage, and a scrubber stage. The present invention relates to a portable system and method that can be deployed on an emergency or quick response basis to purify aqueous streams containing volatile organic compounds (VOC) and chlorinated hydrocarbons, collectively volatile compounds (VC), emitted from petroleum and chemical processing facilities. The system allows manufacturing facilities having internal cleanup issues to become compliant with environmental standards and guidelines quickly. Once the issue in the petroleum facility are fixed, this method can be demobilized and removed from the site in a short period of time.

An acid gas absorbing mixture and a process for the removal of acid gases from gaseous mixtures containing them, such as natural gas, air and flue gases and an absorbent mixture usable for the removal of acid gases from gaseous mixtures containing them includes at least one diol of general formula R(OH).sub.2 having a normal boiling point equal to or greater than 100 C.; at least one organic base having a pK.sub.b (in water) lower than or equal to 3; and a polar aprotic solvent having a dielectric constant at 25 C. greater than or equal to 30, a viscosity at 25 C. lower than or equal to 40 cP (centipoise). The organic base/diol weight ratio is lower than or equal to 0.6, and the aprotic solvent/diol weight ratio is between 0.05 and 0.6.