FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of regenerating an alkaline solution, which comprises providing an enriched alkaline liquid containing mercaptans; mixing the rich alkaline liquid with the liquid catalyst to form a liquid alkaline catalyst mixture; directing the liquid alkaline catalyst mixture into the lower section of the vertical column configured to create an upward flow of the liquid alkaline catalyst mixture inside the column; injecting oxygen-containing gas into the liquid alkaline catalyst mixture to form a gas-liquid mixture which flows upward within the column and enters the first reaction zone; oxidizing mercaptans to disulphide oil in a first reaction zone to form an oxidised gas-liquid mixture; directing the oxidised gas-liquid mixture into a pipeline located between the upper tray and the lower tray such that the liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali escapes from the pipeline to the upper surface of the upper tray which is fixedly fixed to the upper section of the column; liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali is directed into a curtain attached to the lower surface of the upper tray, where the liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali comes into contact with a beam of vertical hanging fibers so that the liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali flows from the individual fibers in the beam into the second reaction zone; second reaction zone is maintained as a gas continuous phase containing from about 20 % to about 100 vol.% of steam; oxidising the mercaptans in the liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali, while the liquid mixture of disulphide oil and alkali flows from the fibers in the second reaction zone to form a mixture of regenerated alkali and disulphide oil; recovered mixture of regenerated alkali and disulphide oil on lower tray, providing separation of disulphide oil from regenerated alkali; discharging exhaust gas stream from upper section; and a continuous stream of disulphide oil and a stream of regenerated alkali are separately removed from the column.
EFFECT: removing alkali from disulphides, such as mercaptans, to achieve sulfur level of less than 7,5 parts weight / million while minimizing capital and operating costs.
9 cl, 4 dwg
