The invention relates to: a process for the desulphurization of feed streams
comprising: supplying a hot process stream to a lead catalyst bed (8) comprising
a first sulphur-removing catalyst and a second sulphur-removing catalyst under
conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the first sulphur-removing
catalyst and said second sulphur-removing catalyst does not effectively remove
sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature of the lead catalyst bed for
the duration of the bed's life; collecting a hot partially sulphur-depleted stream
from the lead catalyst bed and cooling said stream; passing said cooled stream
through a lag catalyst bed (11) comprising the first sulphur-removing catalyst
and the second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed
from the process stream by the second sulphur-removing catalyst and said first
sulphur-removing catalyst removes sulphur less efficiently from the stream at the
operating temperature of the lag catalyst bed; and recovering said sulphur-depleted
stream from the second catalyst bed. In addition it relates to, apparatus for the
desulphurization of feed streams which comprises: a lead catalyst bed (8)
comprising a first sulphur-removing catalyst and a second sulphur-removing catalyst
capable of operating under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process
stream by the first sulphur-removing catalyst and said second sulphur-removing
catalyst does not effectively remove sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature
of the lead catalyst bed (8) throughout the lead bed's operating life; means
(9) for collecting a hot partially sulphur-depleted stream from the lead
catalyst bed (8) and cooling said stream; a lag catalyst bed (11)
comprising the first sulphur-removing catalyst and the second sulphur-removing
catalyst capable of operating under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from
the process stream by the second sulphur-removing catalyst and said first sulphur-removing
catalyst does not efficiently remove sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature
of the lag catalyst bed(11).
