Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for ultrasonic oxidative desulfurization of heavy fuel oils. In various embodiments, the methods include combinations of ultrasonic sulfone decomposition processes and/or catalytic decomposition processes.

Abstract: A reaction system and method for removing heteroatoms from oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon streams and products derived therefrom are disclosed. An oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a reaction system thereby forming non-ionic hydrocarbon products. The products derived therefrom are useful as transportation fuels, lubricants, refinery intermediates, or refinery feeds.

Abstract: A reactor has two chambers, namely an oil feedstock chamber and a source chamber. An ion separator separates the oil feedstock chamber from the source chamber, wherein the ion separator allows alkali metal ions to pass from the source chamber, through the ion separator, and into the oil feedstock chamber. A cathode is at least partially housed within the oil feedstock chamber and an anode is at least partially housed within the source chamber. A quantity of an oil feedstock is within the oil feedstock chamber, the oil feedstock comprising at least one carbon atom and a heteroatom and/or one or more heavy metals, the oil feedstock further comprising naphthenic acid. When the alkali metal ion enters the oil feedstock chamber, the alkali metal reacts with the heteroatom, the heavy metals and/or the naphthenic acid, wherein the reaction with the alkali metal forms inorganic products.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a stack for a separation vessel adapted to receive a fluid having one or more phases. The stack may include one or more walls surrounding a void, a packed bed positioned within the void, and a distributor positioned above the packed bed. Generally, the stack has a height greater than its width. Usually, the separation vessel further includes a base having a length greater than its height, and the height of the stack is orientated substantially perpendicular to the length of the base.

Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a stack for a separation vessel adapted to receive a fluid having one or more phases. The stack may include one or more walls surrounding a void, a packed bed positioned within the void, and a distributor positioned above the packed bed. Generally, the stack has a height greater than its width. Usually, the separation vessel further includes a base having a length greater than its height, and the height of the stack is orientated substantially perpendicular to the length of the base.

Abstract: A desulfurizing agent is produced by mixing a copper compound, a zinc compound and an ammonium compound with an aqueous solution of an alkali substance to prepare or precipitate followed by calcitrating the resulting precipitate to form a calcined precipitate into a shape form of a copper oxide-zinc oxide-aluminum oxide mixture. The shaped form is impregnated with iron or nickel and calcined to produce a calcined oxide and reduced with hydrogen to form a sulfur-absorption desulfurizing agent.

Abstract: An improved method for desulfurizing a fuel stream such as a diesel stream is disclosed which includes generation of a sulfone oil, the desulfurization of the sulfone oil and the recycling of the resulting biphenyl-rich stream and ultra-low sulfur diesel streams. The method includes combining a thiophene-rich diesel stream with an oxidant to oxidize the thiophenes to sulfones to provide a sulfone-rich diesel stream. Sulfone oil is extracted from the sulfone-rich diesel stream to provide sulfone oil and a first low-sulfur diesel stream The low-sulfur diesel stream is recycled. The sulfone-rich oil stream is combined with an aqueous oxidant-containing stream, such as caustic stream, which oxidizes the sulfones to biphenyls and forms sulfite to provide a second low-sulfur diesel stream.

Abstract: This invention relates to the electrochemical conversion of dibenzothiophene type molecules of petroleum feedstreams to mercaptans that can then be removed, in one embodiment, by caustic extraction. In another embodiment, the mercaptans can be thermally decomposed, removing sulfur as hydrogen sulfide. The conversion of dibenzothiophenes to mercaptans is performed by electrochemical means without the required addition of hydrogen and in the substantial absence of water.

Abstract: A process for production of sweet heavy crude oil is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of: removing contaminants from heavy oil, bitumen or bitumen froth to form a substantially dewatered deasphalted oil; and subsequent desulfurization of the substantially dewatered deasphalted oil using sodium metal desulfurization to produce a sweet heavy crude oil. The step of removing contaminants is conducted using extraction with a paraffinic solvent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel process for refining the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in a commercial scale. The process comprises: sequentially performing fine desulfurization and mercaptan conversion of the LPG after alcohol amine treatment through desulfurizer and catalyst set in fixed bed reactor in the absence of alkali, wherein, during the fine desulfurization, the resultants of reaction between hydrogen sulfide in the LPG and Fe—Ca oxides or their hydrates adhered on the desulfurizer, and during the mercaptan conversion, the mercaptan in the LPG reacts with the residual trace amount of air in the LPG under the action of the catalyst to produce the disulfides; letting the formed disulfides along with the LPG flow out of the fixed bed reactor; rectifying the LPG after the mercaptan conversion to obtain the refined LPG products, with further rectification to obtain the valuable disulfide products.

Abstract: Described is an apparatus and process for extracting sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. A prewash section for converting hydrogen sulfide to sodium sulfide by reaction with an alkali such as caustic communicates with an extractor section disposed directly above the prewash section for converting mercaptans to mercaptides by reaction with alkali. Hydrocarbon product exits the extractor section through a coalescer that prevents alkali from exiting with the hydrocarbon product stream.

Abstract: A process for producing food grade wax which contains exceedingly low levels of nitrogen, sulfur and aromatic compounds. A waxy feedstock is firstly hydrotreated in a first hydrogenation zone to reduce the level of contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic compounds, and the resulting effluent from the first hydrogenation zone is introduced into a hot, high pressure stripper and contacted with a hot, hydrogen-rich stripping gas to remove ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The stripped, hot liquid hydrocarbons are removed from the bottom of the hot, high-pressure stripper to further reduce the concentration of aromatic compounds by being hydrogenated in a second hydrogenation zone containing a platinum or palladium catalyst.

Abstract: A method for reducing acid corrosion and products of acid corrosion in a thermal cracking plant, the acid corrosion products being compounds of iron, chromium, nickel, lead, cadmium, manganese, mercury, magnesium, calcium, sodium, copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, and aluminum, the improvement comprising introducing ethylene diamine into at least one process stream of the plant.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition and method for treating liquid hydrocarbons in order to remove acidic impurities, such as mercaptans, particularly mercaptans having a molecular weight of about C4 (C4H10S=90 g/mole) and higher, such as recombinant mercaptans.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating and upgrading a hydrocarbon containing acidic species such as mercaptans, comprising: (a) contacting the hydrocarbon, in the essential absence of oxygen, with a first phase of a treatment composition containing water, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, cobalt phthalocyanine sulfonate, and dissolved alkylphenylates and having at least two phases, (i) the first phase containing water, alkali metal alkylphenylate, dissolved alkali metal hydroxide, and dissolved sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine, and (ii) the second phase containing water and dissolved alkali metal hydroxide; and then (b) separating an upgraded hydrocarbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for desulfurizing naphtha boiling-range hydrocarbons such as cracked naphtha. More particularly, the invention relates to hydrotreating the naphtha under selective hydrotreating conditions, and then removing mercaptans from the hydrotreater effluent using a caustic extractant.

Abstract: A process and apparatus to extract and recover heavy metals and sulfur from crude oil or petroleum fuel products including the steps of emulsifying the crude oil with an emulsifying agent, adding a leach solution to the emulsified crude oil and leaching the emulsified crude oil at elevated temperature and pressure to give a leached emulsified crude oil. The leach solution may be acid or alkali. A proportion of the leach solution is extracted for recovering heavy metals. There can also be a microwave hydro-treating step using hydrogen gas at a temperature below 220° C. to ensure there is no quality degradation in the crude feed to produce a desulfurized crude oil and a hydrogen sulphide by-product and recovering sulfur from the hydrogen sulphide by-product.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and process for extracting sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. A prewash section for converting hydrogen sulfide to sodium sulfide by reaction with an alkali such as caustic communicates with an extractor section disposed directly above, the prewash section for converting mercaptans to mercaptides by reaction with alkali. Hydrocarbon product exits the extractor section through a coalescer that prevents alkali from exiting with the hydrocarbon product stream.

Abstract: A process for desulfurizing a gasoline stream while continuing to maintain the octane rating of the blend stock. A gasoline stream containing sulfur compounds and olefins is introduced into a fractionation zone to produce a low boiling fraction containing mercaptan sulfur compounds and olefins, a mid boiling fraction containing thiophene and olefins, and a high boiling fraction containing sulfur compounds. The low boiling fraction containing mercaptan sulfur compounds is contacted with an aqueous alkaline solution to selectively remove mercaptan sulfur compounds. The mid boiling fraction containing thiophene is extracted to produce a raffinate stream containing olefins and having a reduced sulfur content relative to the mid boiling fraction and a hydrocarbonaceous stream rich in thiophene.

Abstract: The invention relates to naphtha hydrodesulfurization incorporating either high temperature depressurization or controlled heating for mercaptan removal. More particularly, the invention relates to a naphtha hydrodesulfurization process, wherein the hot naphtha exiting the desulfurization reactor contains mercaptans, most of which are removed without olefin loss, by depressurizing the hot naphtha, thermally treating the hot naphtha, or some combination thereof. The desulfurized naphtha may be cooled and condensed to a liquid, separated from the gaseous H2S, stripped and sent to a mogas pool.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing very low sulfur content hydrocarbon streams by contacting a hydrocarbon feedstream with an aqueous alkaline treatment stream which has been regenerated by the biological conversion of sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur. The process is characterized by the step of contacting the partially regenerated aqueous treatment stream with a hydrocarbon wash stream to remove low levels of residual elemental sulfur suspended in the partially regenerated treatment stream.

Abstract: A process for sweetening high mercaptan content gasoline or other liquid hydrocarbons is disclosed which utilizes aqueous caustic solution. A recycle stream is used to increase the conversion potential by reducing the relative mercaptan concentration of the untreated gasoline. Part of the treated gasoline effluent is recycled to the untreated feed. The treated gasoline has a low mercaptan concentration while the untreated gasoline is high in mercaptans. As the two streams combine, the feed to the unit becomes less concentrated in mercaptan compounds. In effect, the mercaptan concentration of the untreated gasoline has been diluted by the treated gasoline. Nitrogen inhibits the solubility of oxygen into gasoline. Nitrogen present in the recycle stream would create a system high in nitrogen and low in oxygen. By increasing the level of nitrogen, oxygen is limited in its ability to complete the sweetening reaction.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for improving catalyst performance and yields in the manufacture of motor gasoline components. More particularly the process is directed to the removal of H.sub.2 S, sulfur compounds, trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile from a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising a C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 product fraction from a fluid catalytic cracking unit which may be used subsequently in an etherification process for the production of ethers such as MTBE and TAME and/or an alkylation process for the production of alkylate. The hydrocarbon feedstock is passed to an amine treating zone, a mercaptan sulfur removal zone and an adsorption zone for the removal of sulfur compounds, water and trace amounts of acetonitrile or acetone or propionitrile. The regeneration of the adsorption zone includes the contacting of the sorbent with a heated regenerant vapor stream. The spent regenerant vapor stream is condensed to provide a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for hydrotreating a hydrocarbonaceous feed wherein the feed is treated with hydrogen, at hydrotreating conditions, in a first catalyst zone containing a conventional hydrotreating catalyst. The treated feed is then further treated in a second catalyst zone containing a catalyst represented MM'.sub.a S.sub.x where M is Cr or one or more divalent promoter metals selected from Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn; M' is one or both of Mo and W; x is 0.5 to 9, and a=1 when Cr is not one of metals represented by M, and 1<a.ltoreq.1.5 when Cr is one of the metals represented by M.

Abstract: A catalyst composition is prepared by dissolving a suitable vanadium and oxygen containing compound, a suitable nickel (II) compound and ammonia in water, mixing this solution with an alumina containing support material, and calcining this mixture. This catalyst composition is used primarily for hydrotreating of hydrocarbon feed stream, which contain nickel, vanadium and sulfur impurities, particularly heavy oils.

Abstract: A desulfurization process wherein a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material is contacted with a sulfur oxide compound and an amine, a salt of an amine, or mixtures thereof. The contacting converts the sulfur component of the hydrocarbon material to water soluble form thereby allowing the sulfur components to be readily separated by water washing.