US 7,470,829 B2
Method for processing a natural gas with extraction of the solvent contained in the purified natural gas
Renaud Cadours, Francheville (France); Fabrice Lecomte, Paris (France); Lionel Magna, Lyon (France); and Cécile Barrere-Tricca, Soucieu En Jarrest (France)
Assigned to Institut Francais du Petrole, Ruiel Malmaison Cedex (France)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/57,026.
Claims priority of application No. 04 01504 (FR), filed on Feb. 13, 2004.
Prior Publication US 2005/0205468 A1, Sep. 22, 2005
Int. Cl. C07C 7/10 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 585—833  [208/189] 14 Claims
 
1. Method for processing a natural gas containing acid compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide, comprising the following steps:
a) bringing the natural gas into contact with a solvent that takes up the acid compounds so as to obtain a purified gas containing solvent as well as a solvent charged with acid compounds,
b) bringing the purified gas obtained in step a) into contact with a non-aqueous ionic liquid so as to obtain a solvent-impoverished purified gas and an ionic liquid charged with solvent, the general formula of the ionic liquid being Q+ A, where Q+ designates an ammonium, phosphonium, and/or sulfonium cation, and A designates an anion able to form a liquid salt, and
c) regenerating the solvent charged with acid compounds, obtained in step a), by expansion and/or by heating.