Abstract: A whole crude oil desulfurization system and process includes a combination of an adsorption zone and a hydroprocessing zone. This combined process and system reduces the requisite throughput for the hydroprocessing unit, conventionally a very costly and process both in terms of energy expenditures and catalyst depletion. By first contacting the whole crude oil feedstock with an adsorbent for the sulfur-containing compounds, the adsorption effluent having a relatively lower sulfur content can be collected and provided to refiners without further treatment. The adsorbates, including adsorbed organosulfur compounds, are solvent desorbed resulting in a stream containing high levels of organosulfur compounds and a solvent. Following recovery of the solvent, the volume of the sulfur-containing feedstream that remains to be desulfurized in the hydroprocessing zone is substantially less than the original amount of whole crude oil feedstock.

Abstract: A whole crude oil desulfurization system and process includes a combination of an adsorption zone and a hydroprocessing zone. This combined process and system reduces the requisite throughput for the hydroprocessing unit, conventionally a very costly and process both in terms of energy expenditures and catalyst depletion. By first contacting the whole crude oil feedstock with an adsorbent for the sulfur-containing compounds, the adsorption effluent having a relatively lower sulfur content can be collected and provided to refiners without further treatment. The adsorbates, including adsorbed organosulfur compounds, are solvent desorbed resulting in a stream containing high levels of organosulfur compounds and a solvent. Following recovery of the solvent, the volume of the sulfur-containing feedstream that remains to be desulfurized in the hydroprocessing zone is substantially less than the original amount of whole crude oil feedstock.