GB1012284A - Electrothermic production of carbon disulphide by fluidized bed techniques - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:1012284/C1/1> Carbon disulphide is produced by passage of a gas containing hydrogen sulphide and at least one normally gaseous hydrocarbon through a fluidized bed of electrically conductive carbon particles maintained at 900-1500 DEG C. by passage of an electric current therethrough, carbon disulphide being recovered from the exit gases. The reactant gas may be a "natural gas" either containing hydrogen sulphide or one to which hydrogen sulphide has been added. The gaseous hydrocarbon and hydrogen sulphide may be mixed with a non-reactive gas and may be passed through the fluidized bed in a plurality of streams, or alternatively, one stream may comprise a major proportion of hydrogen sulphide and at least one stream may comprise a major proportion of normally gaseous hydrocarbon. As shown, the reactor 1 of silica glass contains a thermal insulation layer 9 and electrically conductive bed 4 of calcined fluid petroleum coke particles. Graphite electrodes 6 and thermocouple well 7 extend into the bed, which has a graphite gas disperser 3 and gas inlet tube 2 situated therein. Exit gases pass through side arm 5, via a glass wool filter, to adsorption towers containing activated carbon. After each run, steam was passed through the towers and carbon disulphide was separated from the condensate. The relative amounts of hydrogen sulphide and hydrocarbon gas introduced into the reactor are not critical and they may vary from 1 : 20 to 20 : 1. The non-reactive gas may be nitrogen or hydrogen. Yields can be increased by recycling the unconsumed hydrocarbon and hydrogen sulphide. The hydrogen values of the reactants may be recovered as hydrogen.