Highly competitive alternative to traditional scrubbing

PreferOx™ (Preferential Oxidation Catalysis) is our newly developed catalytic solution for viscose manufacturers seeking a smarter, more cost-effective method of controlling sulfur compounds in off-gas.

A major challenge in the viscose industry is facilitating removal of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from production off-gas without interfering in the recycling of valuable carbon disulfide (CS2). This is because of the high sodium-hydroxide consumption and wastewater-disposal requirements associated with viscose production.

With Topsoe PreferOx™ technology, viscose manufacturers can remove hydrogen sulfide from off-gases through oxidation, instead of using a scrubber system during the production process. This new technology demonstrates the ability to selectively treat different sulfur compounds, in order to more efficiently remove hydrogen sulfide from emissions while retaining valuable carbon disulfide for reuse in production. In addition, unlike traditional scrubbing, preferential-oxidation catalysis does not consume costly sodium hydroxide or produce wastewater, which is troublesome to dispose of.

A complete sulfur-management solution

In many cases, viscose manufacturers already use Topsoe’s Wet Sulfuric Acid (WSA) solution to convert sulfur compounds in rich gases to sulfuric acid, which can be reused directly in the processing of cellulose to produce viscose. With the addition of PreferOx™ for lean gases, Topsoe now offers viscose manufacturers a complete, highly efficient, and cost-effective solution for sulfur management.

PreferOx™ is part of Topsoe’s comprehensive portfolio of leading sulfur-management solutions, applied in several industries for optimal compliance with emission regulations, capture and reuse of valuable sulfur compounds (e.g. for sulfuric acid), and energy efficiency.

Contact our expert to learn more about the opportunities with PreferOx™ by filling out the form.