Process optimization for microbial sweetening of sour natural gas.

摘要

The present investigation was conducted to study the regeneration of ferric ions in the presence of acidophilic bacterium Thiobacillus ferrooxidans.;The results of this study indicate an enhancement of 90 to 120% in the regeneration rates of ferric ions in the presence of these microbes. The pH of the redox solution, and parameters such as: temperature, total iron concentration, gas or air to liquid ratio and the bacterial cell concentration in the redox solution, play an important role in the overall process. The process parameters for oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and for regeneration of the ferric ions in the presence of bacteria, along with the growth parameters for the microorganism were optimized.;A commercial two-step iron based liquid redox process involving oxidation of hydrogen sulfide in the sour natural gas by chelated ferric ions and regeneration of the ferric ions in the presence of bacteria will result in an improved and economical iron based liquid redox process. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)