Skip to main content
Gas Sweetening (H₂S and CO₂ Removal)
Gas Treatment & Drying

Gas Sweetening (H₂S and CO₂ Removal)

Removing hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide from natural gas and refinery streams using 13X molecular sieve TSA or impregnated activated carbon to meet pipeline and LNG specifications.

Find My Solution View Products & Systems
The Challenge
Sour natural gas with H₂S above 4 ppmv fails pipeline specification, corrodes pipeline steel, and is a safety hazard at the wellhead; CO₂ above pipeline limit lowers heating value and causes ice formation in cryogenic processes.
Quick Answer

Gas sweetening removes hydrogen sulphide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and mercaptans from natural gas, associated gas, and refinery gas streams. SorbiTech delivers the duty using 13X molecular sieve in a TSA cycle (small to medium scale) or impregnated activated carbon guard beds downstream of amine contactors (large scale). Outlet meets GPA 2140 pipeline H₂S limit of 4 ppmv.

Gas Sweetening (H₂S and CO₂ Removal)

Sour Gas Specifications Drive the Duty

Gas sweetening is the removal of acid gases, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide, and mercaptans from natural gas, associated gas from oil production, refinery gas streams, and biogas. Pipeline specifications (GPA 2140 in North America, equivalent in other jurisdictions) limit H₂S to 4 ppmv and CO₂ to 2 to 4 mol percent. LNG feed preparation tightens these further: H₂S below 4 ppmv, CO₂ below 50 ppmv to prevent cold box freezing. Refinery gas streams require similar treatment ahead of catalytic units that are sulphur sensitive.

Molecular Sieve TSA at Small to Medium Scale

Below about 60 MMSCFD a gas sweetening unit using SorbiTech 13X molecular sieve in a TSA cycle delivers combined drying and sweetening in a single bed. The 13X grade is preferred over 4A because the 10 Å pore admits H₂S, CO₂, and mercaptans alongside water; a single bed delivers both pipeline H₂S and pipeline dew point. The regeneration off gas is routed to a flare, an incinerator, or a Claus sulphur recovery unit depending on the H₂S load.

Gas Sweetening (H₂S and CO₂ Removal) process equipment

Amine Plus Polishing at Large Scale

Above 60 MMSCFD the economics favour an amine contactor (typically MDEA or formulated solvent) for the bulk H₂S and CO₂ removal, followed by molecular sieve polishing for the residual water and trace sulphur. The combined train delivers the pipeline or LNG specification at lower capital and operating cost than molecular sieve alone at large scale.

Sour Service Engineering and Delivery

All SorbiTech sweetening equipment is built to NACE MR0175 / ISO 15156 for hardness control in H₂S service, with mandatory post weld heat treatment and full material traceability. SorbiTech runs the fabrication; SorbiTech delivers the turnkey package where the project includes civil and electrical scope. Sector coverage is oil and gas and petrochemicals and refining.

Selection Guidance

Below 60 MMSCFD: 13X molecular sieve TSA gives combined drying and sweetening in one bed. Above 60 MMSCFD: amine contactor (MDEA) followed by molecular sieve polishing. For mercaptans add impregnated activated carbon polishing layer.

How SorbiTech Solves It

A Specified, Verified Solution

Define the duty

We capture your process conditions: flow, composition, pressure, temperature, and the target outlet specification.

Select media & configuration

Our engineers recommend the adsorbent grade and system type that meet the duty with margin.

Size & engineer

Bed sizing, vessel design, and cycle parameters are engineered to your case and documented for approval.

Commission & verify

We support loading, start up, and performance verification against the guarantee.

Recommended Products & Systems

Media

Adsorbents & Media

  1. 01 Molecular Sieve 13x Adsorbent Molecular Sieve 13X Sodium form 13X zeolite for cryogenic air pre purification and combined drying and sweetening. Pore Ø 10 Å
  2. 02 CMS 450hp Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 450HP Ultra high purity carbon molecular sieve. 99.99999 percent (7N) N2, selective O2 and CO2 capture, 1.0 to 1.6 mm pellets, minimal fines, deoxo polishing… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1, deoxo polishing recommended for 7N %
  3. 03 CMS 420kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 420KT High efficiency carbon molecular sieve. Higher oxygen affinity under 7 to 12 barg, 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, Snowstorm Filling compatible, ASTM D4058 attrition… Water Cap. Feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  4. 04 CMS 350kt Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 350KT Rapid adsorption carbon molecular sieve. 40 to 90 second cycle at 7 to 10 barg, up to 99.99 percent N2, 1.0 to 2.2 mm… Water Cap. Moisture at supply below 1.0 percent, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
  5. 05 Activated Alumina Aa 201 Adsorbent Activated Alumina Impregnated Promoter loaded activated alumina for hydrogen sulphide, chloride, and Claus tail gas guard duty. Form 3–5 mm spheres · 1.6–3.2 mm spheres
  6. 06 CMS 260l Adsorbent Carbon Molecular Sieve CMS 260L Affordable carbon molecular sieve. 1.2 to 1.8 mm pellets, sub 10 Angstrom pore, 95 to 99.9 percent N2 from compressed air at 7 to… Water Cap. Intolerant of liquid water, feed must reach ISO 8573 class 1.4.1 %
Equipment

Engineered Systems

  1. 01 SorbiTech Gas Sweetening Unit H2S CO2 Removal 13x Mol Sieve Equipment Gas Sweetening Unit Molecular sieve and impregnated carbon gas sweetening unit for H₂S, CO₂, and mercaptan removal from natural gas, refinery gas, and LPG streams. Capacity 0.5–500 MMSCFD
  2. 02 SorbiTech Transformer Breather Cartridge System Silica Gel Grid Utility Breather Equipment Transformer Breather Cartridge System Pre packaged stainless steel transformer breather cartridge with indicating silica gel for grid transformer moisture protection across the high voltage transmission and distribution network. Capacity 0.5–25 kVA transformer to 800 kV substation
  3. 03 SorbiTech Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package ASU Front End 13x Alumina TSA Towers Equipment Cryogenic ASU Pre Purification Package Front end TSA pre purification package for cryogenic air separation units removing water, carbon dioxide, and trace hydrocarbons before the cold box. Capacity 5,000–500,000 Nm³/h air
  4. 04 SorbiTech Biogas Upgrading Unit Biomethane PSA Carbon Molecular Sieve Equipment Biogas Upgrading Unit PSA biogas upgrading unit using carbon molecular sieve to separate carbon dioxide from methane and deliver grid quality bio methane from anaerobic digester biogas… Capacity 50–2,000 Nm³/h raw biogas
  5. 05 SorbiTech Oxygen Vpsa Package Industrial Oxygen Vpsa Steel Mill Blast Furnace Equipment Oxygen VPSA Package On site vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) oxygen generation package delivering 90 to 95 percent oxygen for medical, aquaculture, ozone generation, and metals applications. Capacity 50–2,500 Nm³/h O₂ (90–95 % purity)
  6. 06 SorbiTech Heatless Desiccant Air Dryer Compressed Air ISO 8573 Twin Tower Dryer Equipment Heatless Desiccant Air Dryer Twin tower heatless desiccant compressed air dryer using activated alumina or silica gel for instrument and process air to pressure dew points below minus… Capacity 50–10,000 Nm³/h
Industries

Industries Using This Application

  1. 01 SorbiTech Petrochemicals Refining Integrated Cracker Complex Distillation Columns Sector Petrochemicals & Refining Adsorbents and separation systems for feedstock drying, process gas conditioning, solvent recovery, and refinery effluent treatment.
  2. 02 SorbiTech Oil Gas Offshore Platform Upstream Production Sector Oil & Gas Complete dehydration, separation, and treatment across upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas. SorbiTech supplies the adsorbent media and the engineered systems from one…

Specify a Solution for This Application

Provide your process conditions and our team will recommend the grade, configuration, and sizing.

contact@sorbitech.com