Why is Natural Gas Of Desulfurization Important?

Fuel cells also require an essentially sulfur-free feed stream in order to prevent poisoning of fuel
cell anode catalyst, which requires effective desulfurization of either the liquid fuel or the
synthesis gas feed converted from gasoline, diesel or jet fuels using a reformer. Even the more
robust high temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are poisoned with low levels of sulfur
contaminants. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced new
regulations that mandate refineries to reduce sulfur levels of transportation fuels down to 30
parts per million on weight basis (ppmw) in gasoline and 15 ppmw in diesel; even with meeting
these reduction levels, sulfur concentrations in transportation fuels will still exceed the levels
tolerable by state of the art SOFCs, about 100 ppbv, preferably 10 ppbv or less.

While sorbent technologies are currently available for removing sulfur from reformate gas, they
are not very suitable for use at the very high temperature needed for feed gas to solid oxide fuel
cells (greater than 500oC and typically 700-800oC). The currently available sorbents exhibit
higher sulfur capacity, removal rate and stability at more moderate temperatures below about
500oC.

The removal of sulfur and carbon dioxide are very important elements in oil and natural gas
production operations, natural gas processing, liquified natural gas (LNG) transport, and crude
oil refining and transportation.

Sulfur in crude oil, natural gas, process gas and natural gas liquids (LNG) may take many forms
including hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbonyl sulfide (COS), and the whole family of mercaptans.

Hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide ("sour gas" or "acid gas") can be very destructive to
equipment and very harmful to your ability to market high quality products. Once the acid gas is
removed and the hydrocarbon stream has been processed, the handling is vastly improved and
the value is increased.