CrystaSulf – A Liquid Phase Claus Process

Claus – The Legend

CrystaSulf^SM's patented technology brings the robustness of the Claus process to the medium scale sulfur removal market (0.1 to 25 tons per day). The Claus process has been the industry standard for large scale sulfur removal for decades due to its reliable operating performance. With hydrocarbon markets setting record highs today, the importance of keeping natural gas, refining, and petrochemical plants operating is vital. Claus provides the operating consistency and performance that energy companies require today. CrystaSulf delivers the Claus level of operational excellence to the medium scale sulfur removal market.

The CrystaSulf Process

CrystaTech's R&D team developed and patented a modified liquid-phase Claus reaction process called CrystaSulf, bringing exceptional performance to the medium scale sour gas treating sector. The CrystaSulf process was first deployed in West Texas at Oxy Permian as a demonstration unit. CrystaSulf is commercially deployed and operating at one of the world's largest natural gas plants located in Northern Germany.

CrystaSulf provides one-step, direct treatment of any gas stream containing H₂S. Using a proprietary hydrocarbon-based process, gaseous hydrogen sulfide is converted to solid crystals of pure elemental sulfur, which can be used as a soil amendment for agricultural use or blended with other sulfur streams. CrystaSulf avoids the chronic problems of plugging, foaming, and high chemical costs seen in conventional aqueous liquid redox processes. CrystaSulf has eliminated sulfur solids in the main circulation loop, therefore providing reliable operation at high pressure. CrystaSulf easily handles gas contaminants (heavy hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, oxygen, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, and others), has a 10-to-1 turndown ratio, is able to follow the load in clean coal power generation, and is able to ramp up with heavy oil production.

Fields of Use

Applications well suited for CrystaSulf include direct treatment of high pressure natural gas, heavy oil associated gas production, clean coal syngas cleanup streams, high CO₂ streams, Claus tail gas streams, amine offgas, and hydrogen recycle streams from refinery HDS units. CrystaSulf has additional advantages for the recycle hydrogen stream in refinery HDS units. The process operating conditions can be adjusted to remove hydrocarbon contaminants from the recycle hydrogen stream along with the H₂S, decreasing the size of the makeup hydrogen plant.

Environmental Benefits

CrystaSulf delivers several exceptional environmental benefits. For example, CrystaSulf is able to reduce SO₂ emissions to near zero levels for new and existing gas treating plants. With acid rain now a global concern, the ability to lower SO₂ emissions from natural gas plants with CrystaSulf is a positive step towards eliminating this environmental and public health concern.