Sulfur guards

Protect your downstream catalysts and reduce costs

Operating at lower temperatures can reduce a refinery’s operating costs significantly, but low operating temperatures negatively affect the saturation capabilities of traditional zinc oxide sulfur absorbents.

Able to remove hydrogen sulfide and other sulfurous compounds at temperatures below 150°C (300°F), our sulfur guards protect your downstream catalysts and ensure pipeline specifications, while helping you reduce operating costs. Our guards provide very high sulfur capacity and long life cycles, and are cost-effective and easy to install and operate under a wide range of conditions.

Catalysts for sulfur removal

SC-501 Purify™ catalyst

A catalyst for an efficient and reliable removal of hydrogen sulfide from gas and liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks at low temperatures (<150 °C, <300 °F).

ST-201 catalyst

A copper based absorbent used to remove minute amounts of sulfur compounds.

VK38 catalyst

The VK38 catalyst provides excellent activity over a wide range of operating conditions. VK38 is the only catalyst on the market that can be used effectively in all beds of any SO2 converter.

VK38+ catalyst

VK38+ is a potassium-promoted catalyst that has higher activity than any other catalyst, regardless of which converter bed it is used in.

VK48 catalyst

This catalyst a designed for low pass service where large amounts of SO3 is present. It is a high vanadium version of the standard all-round VK38 catalyst.

VK59 catalyst

VK59 is a cesium-promoted catalyst optimized for medium to high strength SO2 gasses with continuous operation down to 370°C (700°F).

VK69 catalyst

A catalyst with unmatched high activity for the final pass of double absorption. Significantly reduces pre-heat time and improve start-up performance.

VK-701 LEAP5™ catalyst

Designed for oxidizing SO3-strong gases, and is ideal for use in the last passes in single-absorption plants or in the third pass in 3+1 and 3+2 double-absorption plants.

VK-711 LEAP5™ catalysts

This catalyst enables you to achieve unprecedented reductions in SO2 emissions. It is ideal for use in converted strong gases across the entire temperature range.

VK-WD catalyst

This catalyst is optimized for lean SO2+SO3 gases, such as in a SNOX™ plant or in the bed after the intermediate condenser in a WSA-DC plant.

VK-WL catalyst

This is a cesium-promoted catalyst designed for continuous operation down to 370°C/700°F in lean SO2+SO3 gasses.

VK-WSA catalyst

The VK-WSA catalyst offers excellent activity over a wide range of operating conditions and can be used in any bed of a WSA or WSA-DC converter.

VK-WSX catalyst

VK-WSX was developed to offer higher activity in SO2 gasses that are more than 90% converted. It is more active than VK-WSA and even more active than cesium-promoted VK-WH catalyst.

Applications within this area

Chlorine guards

Absorb any inorganic chlorine your feedstocks might contain and remove the threats to your ammonia and hydrogen plant productivity.

Nickel and vanadium removal

Topsoe offers a very comprehensive portfolio of guard catalysts that effectively trap nickel and vanadium before they reach your high-activity main catalyst.

Phosphorus removal

Our proven hydrodemetalization (HDM) loading schemes will protect your reactor with the industry's highest phosphorus uptake.

Silicon removal

Developing catalysts with superior silicon capacity, we can help you tailor your loading scheme to guard against silicon and maximize cycle lengths.

Arsenic removal

We offer a number of highly efficient arsenic-trap catalysts that catch and accumulate arsenic many times more effectively than conventional hydrotreating catalysts.

Contact us

Do you have a question about our products or solutions? Or do you want to know how our technologies can support your business? Contact our experts today.