H2Sweet Inc.: A regenerable H2S Scrubbing Process

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The Sulfcat® system is an innovative H₂S scrubbing process. Utilizing iron particles to catalyze reactions, H₂S molecules are converted to elemental sulfur. This is a new approach to an established technology and is a significant improvement upon traditional H₂S scrubbing processes that consume large volumes of Triazine based scavengers. Sulfcat® also improves upon more recent approaches that use chelated iron compounds to oxidize sulfur. In these systems the chelates degrade over time and can pose potential health and environmental concerns.

H₂Sweet Inc. also recognizes that environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) criteria are an increasingly relevant way for the public and investors to evaluate companies. Considering the importance of ESG, H₂Sweet can illustrate significant environmental improvement through the reduction in associated logistics, which is a large component of the negative environmental footprint inherent to the use of non-regenerable sweetening processes.

“The Sulfcat® process dramatically reduces chemical consumption and disposal by as much as 90% due to its regenerative characteristics. Emissions of H₂S are removed at levels greater than 99% and the process can be configured to remove H₂S down to <1ppm if needed,” says Chris Ristevski, development engineer at H₂Sweet Inc.

The Sulfcat® process works by first absorbing H₂S from the gas stream with a specially designed absorber system (see diagram). The H₂S then undergoes a series of reactions that convert the absorbed gas to elemental sulfur and water. The reactions are promoted by a suspension of stabilized, sub-micron-sized, iron-based particles. The addition of air in an oxidation vessel regenerates the iron reagent. Elemental sulfur is filtered for recovery.

H₂Sweet’s Ristevski says “the company is continuing its work to optimize the technology to further lower operating costs. Sulfcat® will be used to capture H₂S in solution gas production, water treatment, petroleum refining and other areas where efficient removal of H₂S is required.”