Control and treatment of sulfur compounds specially sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions from the petroleum industry: A review

Sulfur compounds such as sulfur oxides (SOx) are generated and emitted from operations in the petroleum industry which have negative effects on the environment. This study gives a critical and detailed introduction to the control and treatment of sulfur compounds specially sulfur oxides (SOx) emissions from the petroleum industry. It begins with the sectors, main sources, and type of operations that generate SOx emissions; maximum effluent level of them from the petroleum industry; minimization, control, prevention and treatment techniques of these emissions from the petroleum industry. Among these techniques, sulfur recovery unit (SRU) which most often consists of a Claus process for bulk sulfur removal and subsequently a tail gas treatment unit (TGTU) for the remaining H2S removal (SCOT process, Beavon sulfur removal (BSR) process, and Wellman-Lord process) and flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) processes (once-through or regenerable) have been discussed in detail; and removal efficiencies and technical and economical aspects have been compared.