Method for improving reducing potential of natural gas feed

摘要

A means to increase the reducing potential of natural gas used in the reduction of sulfates such as gypsum. A reducing mixture of natural gas and air (or oxygen) is heated prior to reduction of the sulfate. For gypsum reduction, heating the reducing mixture to 1500° F. (816. degree. C.) prior to gypsum reduction increased the gypsum conversion to calcium sulfide to above 65% at a reactor temperature of 1400°- 1500° F. (700°-816° C.) verses less than a 40% conversion rate when an unheated reducing mixture was used.