Enhancement of Sulphur Removal Efficiency from Propane-Propylene Fraction (PPF) from Catalytic Cracking Process (CCP) by Adsorption: A Field Study

The removal of sulphur from propane-propylene fraction (PPF) is crucial for enhancing hydrocarbon product quality and meeting environmental standards. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of adsorption methods used to remove sulphur-containing compounds from PPF using different adsorbents and recovery methods. The experiment was conducted at the olefin plant of the Ethylene-Polyethylene complex in Sumgait, Azerbaijan, employing a two-stage purification process. Four types of adsorbents (A, B, C, and D) were tested. The first adsorber containing adsorbents A, B, and C removed water, mercaptans and carbonyl sulphide (COS), while the second adsorber with adsorbent D removed residual impurities of arsine, COS and hydrogen sulphide. The recovery of adsorbents A, B and C was carried out using methane at 230-250°C. The results showed that the initial sulphur concentration in the starting material, which was 5.67 ppm, decreased significantly after treatment. The two-stage purification process effectively removed both major and trace amounts of sulphur-containing compounds, which confirms the high efficiency of the selected adsorbents. The regeneration process showed its economic and technological stability, providing the possibility of multiple use of adsorbents A, B and C. Further optimization of the process parameters, including temperature and pressure in the adsorbers, will help to increase overall efficiency and reduce operating costs. The study confirmed the promising potential of adsorption methods for industrial sulphur removal from PPF, which contributes to improved product quality and environmental safety of the process.