Role of toluene in hydrogen sulfide combustion under Claus condition

• Examined the role of toluene addition in hydrogen sulfide combustion.
• Effect of 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 5% of toluene in H2S gas stream was examined.
• Toluene addition triggers production of H2 which provides oxidation competition to H2S.
• Increased amount of toluene in H2S gas reduced SO2 and increased asymptotic value of H2S.
• Toluene addition enhanced the formation of CO and COS.

Experimental investigations on the effect of different amounts of toluene addition to H2S combustion in oxygen under Claus condition (Φ = 3) are presented. Three toluene concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 5% in H2S are presented and compared with the baseline case of 100% H2S oxygen combustion. Temperature data showed that addition of toluene to H2S gas stream increases the flame temperature because of large heating value associated with toluene. Addition of toluene resulted in the production of H2, which increased with increase in the amounts of toluene addition. Furthermore, increased addition of toluene concentration increased the asymptotic minimum value of hydrogen sulfide due to oxidation competition between the formed H2 and H2S. The results also showed that the presence of CO triggers the formation of COS with toluene addition due to reaction of CO with SO2. The results showed that SO2 mole fraction increased to a maximum value then decayed with distance along the reactor. Addition of toluene increased the rate of SO2 decay. These results have direct impact on sulfur capture in the Claus reactor and its performance.