BL reported that Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited Kochi Refinery has developed a unique environment protection technology for removing toxic hydrogen sulphide gas produced when crude oil is heated to high temperature.

The technology, developed with in house expertise for desulphurization of very low pressure off gas generated from Vacuum Distillation Unit, is being commercialized. BPCL has entered in to an agreement with Engineers India Limited for commercializing the technology.

Mr E Nandakumar ED of Kochi Refinery and Mr MK Joshi director (Technical) of EIL exchanged the collaboration agreement, which was signed by Mr John Minu Mathew general manager (Technical) of Kochi Refinery on behalf of BPCL and by Mr Ajay Deshpande HOD (R&D) of EIL.

However, the technology is used to remove the harmful hydrogen sulphide gas produced when crude oil is heated to high temperatures during separation of valuable products such as kerosene and diesel. The sulphur, in the hydrogen sulphide gas so removed is recovered in pure solid form and can be used as feedstock in sulphur based industries.

After the hydrogen sulphide gas has been removed, the off gas burns clean with very low sulphur dioxide emissions. The key challenge in developing the technology was the very low pressure of the off gas and the need to develop hardware which can operate at such low pressures. BPCL has applied for a patent for the technology with the Register of Patents, Chennai.

Statement issued said the petroleum major now plans to license the technology to other refineries in India and abroad jointly with Engineers India Ltd.

(Sourced from Business Line)