19-11-2020

Successful start-up of LAMINOL sulphur removal and recovery unit for Antwerp refinery

Frames has supplied, and successfully commissioned, a hydrogen sulphide (H2S) removal unit, based on Frames’ proprietary LAMINOL technology, to a refinery in Antwerp, Belgium. With significantly lower cost of ownership than conventional caustic scrubbers and solid bed type H2S removal processes, the LAMINOL process is suitable for low to mid sulphur loads.

Researching the most effective solution to comply with the refinery’s stringent flue gas SOX emission limits, various technologies were evaluated during the conceptual design phase, including flue gas treatment and caustic scrubbers. Frames’ LAMINOL technology was selected as most effective, while meeting the refinery’s total cost of ownership requirements. Working to a fast track schedule, the modular H2S removal system was quickly installed and commissioned.

LAMINOL H2S Removal
Instead of treating the flue gas directly, the LAMINOL technology removes sulphur components from the distillation overhead gas containing up to 60% H2S before it is combusted in the process furnace. Treating the waste gas in a stand-alone modularized unit meant that the unit was much easier to integrate into the existing refinery facility. The gaseous sulphur removed is converted into elementary sulphur in solid form.

“LAMINOL is a highly effective, and economically attractive, method for deep H2S removal at high concentrations,” says Lennard Spit, gas treatment specialist, Frames. “And unlike many other removal systems, the technology is robust and capable of infinite turndown and handling feed gas fluctuations that are more representative of ‘real world’ refinery waste streams.”

LAMINOL - Proven Technology
Frames LAMINOL technology is the result of an in-house R&D program initially developed and applied in the biogas market where it provides a cost-effective alternative to conventional biogas sweetening processes. The LAMINOL technology is capable of selectively removing H2S from CO2rich gas streams to a few ppm even at near atmospheric gas pressure and is suitable for treating any gas stream.