Appeal No. 96-1165
Application 08/060,422
The Claimed Subject Matter
The claims on appeal are directed to a process for recovering sulfur from metal sulfates and
recycling by-products of the process to reduce process fuel and energy requirements. Claims 1 and 30
are representative of the claimed subject matter and read as follows:
1. A process for sulfur recovery from sulfate comprising:
a) reducing a metal sulfate with a reducing agent comprising recycle carbon
monoxide to form sulfur dioxide;
b contacting said sulfur dioxide with carbonaceous matter to produce elemental
sulfur and said recycle carbon monoxide, said recycle carbon monoxide being produced
in sufficient quantity and purity for use in said metal sulfate reducing step; and
c) recycling said recycle carbon monoxide for use as a portion of said reducing
agent in said step of reducing said metal sulfate to form said sulfur dioxide.
30. An apparatus for the conversion of metal sulfates to sulfur and carbon
monoxide with recycle of said carbon monoxide comprising:
a) a first reactor for reducing a metal sulfate to a corresponding sulfide;
b) means for feeding said sulfate and a reducing agent to said first reactor;
c) means for contacting said sulfate and said reducing agent at a temperature and
for a period of time, [sic] sufficient to effect reduction of said sulfate to the corresponding
sulfide thereby producing a product stream containing said sulfide and waste by-products;
d) means for removing said product stream from said first reactor;
e) means for separating said sulfide from said waste by-products;
f) a second reactor for oxidizing said sulfide to a corresponding oxide;
g) means for feeding said sulfide and an oxidizing agent to said second reactor;
h) means for contacting said sulfide and said oxidizing agent at a temperature and
for a period of time sufficient to effect oxidation of said sulfide to said corresponding oxide
and sulfur dioxide thereby producing a product stream containing said oxide and sulfur
dioxide;
i) means for removing said oxide and said sulfur dioxide from said second
reactor;
j) means for separating said oxide from said sulfur dioxide;
k) a third reactor for reducing said sulfur dioxide to sulfur and carbon monoxide;
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