Xylene Addition Effects in Thermal Stage of Claus Reactors

Experimental results are presented on the effect of xylene addition to H2S/O2 flames at equivalence ratio of 3.0 (Claus Condition) with respect to H2S and complete combustion of xylene. The results from the combustion of H2S/xylene mixture is compared with the baseline case of 100% H2S combustion to isolate the role of xylene addition in the Claus reactor. Combustion of H2S alone showed a decrease in its mole until it reached to an asymptotic minimum mole fraction value. This resulted in the formation of SO2 to a maximum mole fraction which subsequently decomposed from the formation of elemental sulfur through its reaction with H2S. Addition of small amount of xylene (0.5% and 1%) increased the asymptotic minimum value of H2S as well as the formation of H2 which provided oxidation competition between the formed H2 and H2S. Presence of xylene also triggered the formation of CH4 and CO which provided pathway on the formation of COS and CS2. The oxidation of CH4 and CO by SO2 and other sulfur radicals reduced the maximum mole fraction of SO2 but increased the subsequent rate of SO2 decomposition to increase the formation rate of elemental sulfur. These results show the direct impact of trace amounts of xylene in the feed stream on sulfur formation to reveal direct impact on the Claus reactor performance for sulfur capture.

Three-electron two-centred bonds and the stabilisation of cationic sulfur radicals

Spin stabilisation of conjugated motifs and heteroatoms suggests that the primary mechanism for cationic thioether stabilisation is not three-electron two-centred bonds.