Production of liquids and reduced sulfur gaseous products from sour natural gas

摘要

Aspects of the invention are associated with the discovery of approaches for the conversion of sour natural gas streams, by conversion to liquid hydrocarbons. Particular processes and their associated apparatuses advantageously combine (i) dehydroaromatization (DHA) of methane in a gaseous feedstock, to produce aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, with (ii) the reaction of H₂S and methane in this feedstock, to produce organic sulfur compounds such as carbon disulfide (CS₂) and thiophene (C₄H₄S). A gaseous product having a reduced concentration of H₂S is thereby generated. The aromatic hydrocarbons and organic sulfur compounds may be recovered in a liquid product. Both the gaseous and liquid products may be easily amenable to further upgrading. Other advantages of the disclosed processes and apparatuses reside in their simplicity, whereby the associated streams, including a potential gaseous recycle, generally avoid high partial pressures of H₂S.