The Challenges behind Carbon Disulfide Removal in Naphtha-Derived Cuts

A known contaminant in naphtha feedstock to olefins crackers is carbon dissulfide. Sometimes, this sulfur compound is imperceptible to ethylene units and its harmful effects are not often discussed by producers. However, for downstream cuts, particularly to C5 processing, where CS₂ tends to agressively concentrate, it may be a very difficult trouble to handle. Over the past decade, Braskem & Veolia has been working in how to protect operation assets from carbon dissulfide byproducts mechanisms related to corrosion and fouling. Although there are known technologies in the market aiming carbon dissulfide decontamination, several consequences must be considered as the cost of solution as well as its compatibility to the process. This parper has the purpose of share both companies experience lived to date, reviewing the effects of high carbon dissulfide concentration in hydrocarbon medium, the challenges to deal with this and important operational events observed along this period.