Abstract: Described herein is a process for the removal of sulfones by mesoporous silica adsorbents having narrow pore size distribution which could be controlled to specification for the selective removal of sulfones from oxidized hydrocarbon fuels wherein the sulfones were present due to oxidative conversion of organo-sulfur compounds by a suitable oxidizing solution. The mesoporous adsorbents showed typically 2-18 times higher equilibrium loading capacity for sulfones in comparison to the commercially available adsorbents.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for the removal of sulfones by mesoporous silica adsorbents having narrow pore size distribution which could be controlled to specification for the selective removal of sulfones from oxidised hydrocarbon fuels wherein the sulfones were present due to oxidative conversion of organo-sulfur compounds by a suitable oxidizing solution. The mesoporous adsorbents showed typically 2-18 times higher equilibrium loading capacity for sulfones in comparison to the commercially available adsorbents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for direct hydroxylation of aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene to phenol, toluene to cresols and anisole to methoxy phenols by using hydrogen peroxide as environmentally benign oxidant in polar solvent like acetonitrile using vanadium phthalocyanine or its derivative as a catalyst, at a temperature in the range of 25-100° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for direct hydroxylation of aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene to phenol, toluene to cresols and anisole to methoxy phenols by using hydrogen peroxide as environmentally benign oxidant in polar solvent like acetonitrile using vanadium phthalocyanine or its derivative as a catalyst, at a temperature in the range of 25-100° C.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for oxidative desulphurization of liquid hydrocarbon fuels, such as diesel fuel, gasoline, jet fuel, fuel oils, coal liquids and similar petroleum products to ultra low sulphur hydrocarbon fuels with sulphur content less than 10 ppm. In this process, the sulfur compounds present in hydrocarbon fuel are first oxidised to more polar sulphones/sulphoxides and then removed by solvent extraction with NMP containing antisolvent followed by final polishing by passing through adsorption column.

Abstract: A process for fixed bed sweetening of petroleum distillates using halogenating metal phthalocyanine as a catalyst comprising impregnating the catalyst on activated charcoal bed by circulating alcoholic alkaline solution of the catalyst through charcoal bed till colorless bed solution is obtained in the effluent, passing the petroleum distillate through the said catalyst loaded charcoal bed along with air or oxygen at a temperature and pressure with liquid hourly space velocity with continuous or intermittent injection of alkali solution such as sodium hydroxide of concentration to obtain the desired low mercaptan level petroleum distillates. The alkaline solution used is selected from methanolic and ethanolic solution of sodium hydroxide. The halogenated metal phthalocyanine catalyst used is selected from dichloro cobalt phthalocyanine and dibromo cobalt phthalocyanine. The petroleum fraction used is selected from diesel, kerosene and FCC gasoline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of metal phthalocyanine sulphonamide [MPc(SO2NHR)x] catalyst useful for sweetening of LPG and light petroleum distillates which comprises reacting a metal phthalocyanine with chlorosulphonic acid at 90-150° C. for 1-5 hrs. cooling the reaction mixture adding 1-7 parts of a chloride reagent heating the said mixture at 60-80° C. from 0.5-3 hrs. to obtain the metal phthalocyanine sulphonyl chloride, isolating it by adding the reaction mixture in ice cold water, reacting the isolated metal phthalocyanine sulphonyl chloride with an amine of general formula H2NR where R is selected from hydrogen, aryl, alkyl and cycloalkyl in an aqueous or non-aqueous medium or a mixture thereof at a temperature in the range −4 to 15° C.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a supported catalyst comprising a Halogenated Phthalocyanine of cobalt, iron or manganese of formula 1 which comprises: mixing a phthalocyanine of cobalt, iron or manganese with a halogenating agent in a stoichiometric ratio ranging between 1:1 to 1:20 optionally in an inert organic solvent, refluxing or heating and stirring for a time period ranging between 1-6 hrs, distilling the excess halogenating agent from the mixture, filtering and washing the residual mass by known method to obtain the desired halogenated phthalocyanine and impregnating a support material with the desired halogenated phthalocyanine.

Abstract: The present invention related to a process for sweetening of LPG light petroleum distillates by liquid liquid extraction using metal phtalocyanine sulphonamide catalyst which comprises extracting the mercaptanes contain in LPG, light petroleum distillate like pentanes, light straight run naphtha by liquid-liquid extraction using an aqueous or alcoholic solution of alkali metal hydroxide of concentration ranging between 1 wt % to 50 wt % in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine sulphonamide catalyst in the concentration ranging from 5-4000 ppmw, at a temperature ranging from 10° C. to 80° C. at a pressure ranging from 1 kg/cm2-50 kg/cm2 in a continuous or batch manner, converting the mercaptanes present in above said extract into corresponding disulphides by passing air, oxygen or any oxygen containing gas at the above same temperature and pressure, regenerating the alkali solution containing catalyst for recycling by separating the upper layer of disulphides from said alkali solution of catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relate to a process for sweetening of LPG, light petroleum distillates by liquid-liquid extraction using metal phthalocyanine sulphonamide catalyst which comprises extracting the mercaptanes contained in LPG, light petroleum distillate like pentanes, light straight run naphtha by liquid-liquid extraction using an aqueous or alcoholic solution of alkali metal hydroxide of concentration ranging between 1 wt % to 50 wt % in the presence of a metal phthalocyanine sulphonamide catalyst in the concentration ranging from 5-4000 ppmw, at a temperature ranging from 10° C. to 80° C., at a pressure ranging from 1 kg/cm2-50 kg/cm2 in a continuous or batch manner, converting the mercaptanes present in above said extract into corresponding disulphides by passing air, oxygen or any oxygen containing gas at the above same temperature and pressure, regenerating the alkali solution containing catalyst for recycling by separating the upper layer of disulphides from said alkali solution of catalyst.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a Halogenated Metal Phthalocyanine catalyst of formula 1.