Oxygen Containing Patents (Class 208/240)
  • Publication number: 20020157989
    Abstract: Potassium formate is used together with a sulfide scavenger to remove and otherwise treat sulfhydryl compounds such as hydrogen sulfide present in hydrocarbons and aqueous substrates
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Applicant: Clearwater, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry W. Gatlin, Wayne Mueller
  • Publication number: 20020148756
    Abstract: Economical processes are disclosed for the production of components for refinery blending of transportation fuels by selective oxidation of feedstocks comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Oxidation feedstock is contacted with a soluble quaternary ammonium salt containing halogen, sulfate, or bisulfate anion, and an immiscible aqueous phase comprising a source of hydrogen peroxide, and at least one member of the group consisting of phosphomolybdic acid and phosphotungstic acid, in a liquid reaction mixture under conditions suitable for reaction of one or more of the sulfur-containing and/or nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Blending components containing less sulfur and/or less nitrogen than the oxidation feedstock are recovered from the reaction mixture. Advantageously, at least a portion of the immiscible acid-containing phase is recycled to the oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: George Ernest Morris, Andrew Richard Lucy, William H. Gong, Monica Cristina Regalbuto, George A. Huff
  • Publication number: 20020144932
    Abstract: Economical processes are disclosed for the production of components for refinery blending of transportation fuels by selective oxidation of feedstocks comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons, sulfur-containing and nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Oxidation feedstock is contacted with an immiscible phase comprising at least one organic peracid or precursors of organic peracid in a liquid phase reaction mixture maintained substantially free of catalytic active metals and/or active metal-containing compounds and under conditions suitable for oxidation of one or more of the sulfur-containing and/or nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Blending components containing less sulfur and/or less nitrogen than the oxidation feedstock are recovered from the reaction mixture. Advantageously, at least a portion of the immiscible acid-containing phase is recycled to the oxidation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: William H. Gong, Monica Cristina Regalbuto, George A. Huff
  • Publication number: 20020139717
    Abstract: A method and composition for reducing the levels of hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans in hydrocarbon streams. The method comprises contacting the gas stream with a composition comprising the reaction product of mixing monoethanolamine, diglycolamine and formaldehyde. The use of the method and composition alleviates problems associated with crystalline dithiazine depost build-up associated with the use of triazine based scavengers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventors: Clive Willaim Titley, Peter Hans Wieninger
  • Patent number: 6441264
    Abstract: A method for separating at least a benzothiophene compound from a hydrocarbon mixture is disclosed. The method includes contacting the mixture of a fraction obtained therefrom with a reagent including an acceptor complexing agent &pgr;, to obtain a donor-acceptor complex between the acceptor complexing agent and the benzothiophene compound; and separating the complex from the mixture, or from the fraction, to obtain a fraction depleted or purified in the benzothiophene compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Total Raffinage Distribution S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Lemaire, Michéle Monnet, Michel Vrinat, Valérie Lamure, Emmanuelle Sanson, Alexandra Milenkovic
  • Patent number: 6406616
    Abstract: A process for desulfurizing hydrocarbons such as gasoline and similar petroleum products to reduce the sulfur content to a range of from about 2 to 15 ppm sulfur without affecting the octane rating is described. The sulfur containing hydrocarbon is contacted at slightly elevated temperatures with an oxidizing/extracting solution of formic acid, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, and no more than about 25 wt % water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Unipure Corporation
    Inventors: Alkis S. Rappas, Vincent P. Nero, Stephen J. DeCanio
  • Patent number: 6402939
    Abstract: Fossil fuels are combined with a hydroperoxide in an aqueous-organic medium and subjected to ultrasound, with the effect of oxidizing the sulfur compounds in the fuels to sulfones. Due to their high polarity, the sulfones thus formed are readily removed from the fuels by polar extraction. The process is thus highly effective in removing sulfur compounds from the fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Sulphco, Inc.
    Inventors: Teh Fu Yen, Hai Mei, Steve Hung-Mou Lu
  • Patent number: 6402940
    Abstract: A process for desulfurizing fuels such as diesel oil and similar petroleum products to reduce the sulfur content to a range of from about 2 to 15 ppm sulfur is described. The sulfur containing fuel is contacted at slightly elevated temperatures with an oxidizing/extracting solution of formic acid, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, and no more than about 25 wt % water. A removal process for separating substituted dibenzothiophene oxidation products from tile fuel is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Unipure Corporation
    Inventor: Alkis S. Rappas
  • Patent number: 6368495
    Abstract: A novel process effective for the removal of organic sulfur compounds from liquid hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process more specifically addresses the removal of thiophenes and thiophene derivatives from a number of petroleum fractions, including gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene. In the first step of the process, the liquid hydrocarbon is subjected to oxidation conditions in order to oxidize at least some of the thiophene compounds to sulfones. Then, these sulfones can be catalytically decomposed to hydrocarbons (e.g. hydroxybiphenyl) and volatile sulfur compounds (e.g. sulfur dioxide). The hydrocarbon decomposition products remain in the treated liquid as valuable blending components, while the volatile sulfur compounds are easily separable from the treated liquid using well-known techniques such as flash vaporization or distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. Kocal, Timothy A. Brandvold
  • Publication number: 20020035306
    Abstract: A multi-step process for desulfurizing liquid petroleum fuels that also removes nitrogen-containing compounds and aromatics. The process steps are: thiophene extraction; thiophene oxidation; thiophene-oxide and -dioxide extraction; raffinate solvent recovery and polishing; extract solvent recovery; and recycle-solvent purification. The thiophene oxidation is accomplished with hydrogen peroxide and the extraction solvent is acetic acid in combination with secondary solvents. The operating conditions in the process are relatively mild at near ambient pressure and less than 145 ° C. throughout the process, and the only chemical consumed in the process is hydrogen peroxide. The process design can be modified to accommodate a variety of liquid hydrocarbon feeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 21, 2002
    Inventors: Walter Gore, Stove Bonde, Geoffrey E. Dolbear, Ebbe R. Skov
  • Publication number: 20020029997
    Abstract: A process for desulfurizing hydrocarbons such as gasoline and similar petroleum products to reduce the sulfur content to a range of from about 2 to 15 ppm sulfur without affecting the octane rating is described. The sulfur containing hydrocarbon is contacted at slightly elevated temperatures with an oxidizing/extracting solution of formic acid, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, and no more than about 25 wt % water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Applicant: UniPure Corporation
    Inventors: Alkis S. Rappas, Vincent P. Nero, Stephen J. DeCanio
  • Patent number: 6334949
    Abstract: A method for the removal of carbonyl sulfide from liquefied petroleum is disclosed. Removal of carbonyl sulfide is accomplished by contacting a liquid petroleum gas stream containing a carbonyl sulfide as an impurity with a calixarene complexing agent as the principal agent for the removal of the carbonyl sulfide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bruno, Anthony F. Lagalante
  • Patent number: 6320090
    Abstract: Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants are removed from petroleum distillates by mixing a solvent with petroleum distillate to extract the contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, James W. Hershberger, Richard T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6277271
    Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of hydrocarbonaceous oil wherein the hydrocarbonaceous oil and a recycle stream containing sulfur-oxidated compounds is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone to reduce the sulfur level to a relatively low level and then contacting the resulting hydrocarbonaceous stream from the hydrodesulfurization zone with an oxidizing agent to convert the residual, low level of sulfur compounds into sulfur-oxidated compounds. The residual oxidizing agent is decomposed and the resulting hydrocarbonaceous oil stream containing the sulfur-oxidated compounds is separated to produce a stream containing the sulfur-oxidated compounds and a hydrocarbonaceous oil stream having a reduced concentration of sulfur-oxidated compounds. At least a portion of the sulfur-oxidated compounds is recycled to the hydrodesulfurization reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Joseph A. Kocal
  • Patent number: 6274785
    Abstract: A method for the removal of sulfur and nitrogen containing compounds from petroleum distillates. Sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds are oxidized using a selective oxidant to create compounds that can be preferentially extracted from a petroleum distillate due to their increased relative polarity. Oxidation is accomplished by contacting an oxidant with a distillate under optimum conditions for that distillate and continuing the reaction until oxidized sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds are confirmed. Extraction is accomplished by contacting oxidized distillate with a non-miscible solvent that is selective for the relatively polar oxidized sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds. The oxidized compounds and solvent are separated from the distillate by gravity separation or centrifugation. The distillate is water washed and polished using clay filtration. The extraction solvent is separated from the solvent/oxidized compound mixture by a simple distillation for recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Walter Gore
  • Patent number: 6242618
    Abstract: Invention relates to H2S scavengers polysulfide compounds and methods for scavenging H2S from polysulfide compounds. Furthermore, the invention uses a scavenger for selectively reducing the levels of hydrogen sulfide present in a polysulfide product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: David R. Forester, Bharat B. Malik
  • Patent number: 6207043
    Abstract: Low-sulfur aliphatic compounds are obtained from olefin-rich starting materials contaminated with organic sulfur compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Vicari, Ekkehard Schwab, Marc Walter, Siegmar Maassen
  • Patent number: 6171478
    Abstract: A process for the desulfurization of hydrocarbonaceous oil wherein the hydrocarbonaceous oil is contacted with a hydrodesulfurization catalyst in a hydrodesulfurization reaction zone to reduce the sulfur level to a relatively low level and then contacting the resulting hydrocarbonaceous stream from the hydrodesulfurization zone with an oxidizing agent to convert the residual, low level of sulfur compounds into sulfur-oxidated compounds. The resulting hydrocarbonaceous oil stream containing the sulfur-oxidated compounds is separated after decomposing any residual oxidizing agent to produce a stream containing the sulfur-oxidated compounds and a hydrocarbonaceous oil stream having a reduced concentration of sulfur-oxidated compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Carlos A. Cabrera, Tamotsu Imai
  • Patent number: 6160193
    Abstract: A method for the removal of sulfur and nitrogen containing compounds from petroleum distillates. Sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds are oxidized using a selective oxidant to create compounds that can be preferentially extracted from a petroleum distillate due to their increased relative polarity. Oxidation is accomplished by contacting an oxidant with a distillate under optimum conditions for that distillate and continuing the reaction until oxidized sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds are confirmed. Extraction is accomplished by contacting oxidized distillate with a non-miscible solvent that is selective for the relatively polar oxidized sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds. The oxidized compounds and solvent are separated from the distillate by gravity separation or centrifugation. The distillate is water washed and polished using clay filtration. The extraction solvent is separated from the solvent/oxidized compound mixture by a simple distillation for recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Inventor: Walter Gore
  • Patent number: 5980845
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides sulfide scavenger solutions and processes that have high sulfide scavenging capacity, provide a reduction or elimination of solids formation and avoid the use of chemicals that pose environmental concerns. The invention utilizes a dialdehyde, preferably ethanedial, for the purpose of reacting with amines, amine carbonates, or other derivatives of amines that are liberated when certain scavenger solutions react with sulfides, including hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans. The scavenger solutions that have been discovered to liberate amines are those formed by a reaction between an amine and an aldehyde.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Doyle Cherry
  • Patent number: 5961820
    Abstract: Sulfur-containing carbonaceous materials are desulfurized by reaction with a mixture of an oxidizing agent and a carbonyl compound under alkaline conditions at a temperature ranging from ambient temperature to about 250.degree. F. and a pressure of about 1 atmosphere to 2 atmospheres. The products of the reaction are a desulfurized carbonaceous material in which the sulfur content is less than about 1%, and gaseous sulfur compounds. The carbonyl compound can be recovered and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: DS2 Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: James K. Jeanblanc, William E. Wismann
  • Patent number: 5958224
    Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a process for removing hard sulfurs from hydrocarbon streams by selectively oxidizing hard sulfurs in a hydrotreated stream, under oxidizing conditions in the presence of an effective amount of an oxidizing agent, wherein the oxidizing agent is a peroxometal complex and wherein the hard sulfurs are oxidized into the corresponding sulfoxides and sulfones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co
    Inventors: Teh Chung Ho, Chang Samuel Hsu, Gerald Dennis Dupre, Ronald Liotta, Viktor Buchholz
  • Patent number: 5820766
    Abstract: A composition and a process for substantially reducing or removing sulfide from a sulfide-containing fluid are disclosed. The composition comprises, or is prepared by combining components comprising, a sulfide-containing fluid and a sulfide-scavenging amount of a sulfide scavenger selected from the group consisting of bromates, iodates, and combinations of two or more thereof. The process comprises contacting a sulfide-containing fluid with a sulfide-scavenging amount of a sulfide scavenger under a condition sufficient to substantially reduce the sulfide concentration in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Diane Gevertz, Gary E. Jenneman
  • Patent number: 5753102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process and equipment for efficiently and economically recovering organic sulfur compounds in a fuel oil while maintaining the original chemical structures thereof. The fuel oil is admixed with a solvent low in solubility therein of hydrocarbons and high in solubility therein of organic sulfur compounds to effect migration of the organic sulfur compounds in the fuel oil into the solvent by making much of the nucleophilic properties of a lone pair of electrons on a bivalent sulfur atom of a sulfur-containing functional group, followed by fuel oil-solvent separation by settling out or with a centrifugal force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Izumi Funakoshi
    Inventors: Izumi Funakoshi, Tetsuo Aida
  • Patent number: 5689033
    Abstract: A process is directed to the removal of impurities such as sulfur compounds, oxygenates, and/or olefins from a light paraffin hydrocarbon feedstock such as a C.sub.4 -C.sub.6 fraction, which may be used subsequently in an isomerization process in an integrated complex for the production of ethers such as MTBE and TAME. The hydrocarbon feedstream is passed to a removal zone wherein the hydrocarbon feedstream is contacted with a selective solvent for the removal of the impurities comprising at least one of sulfur compounds, oxygenates and olefins to provide a rich solvent stream and a treated hydrocarbon stream. The rich solvent comprising the trace impurities is contacted with a stripping medium stream to regenerate the selective solvent in a stripping zone. The removal zone may be a liquid-liquid extraction zone or a gas absorption zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventors: Paulino Forte, Stanley J. Frey
  • Patent number: 5552060
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for scavenging H.sub.2 S from aqueous and hydrocarbon substrates using an epoxide. Preferred epoxides are styrene oxide, 1,3-butadiene diepoxide, and cyclohexene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Glenn L. Roof
  • Patent number: 5326385
    Abstract: A method of treating sour liquefied petroleum gas comprising removing hydrogen sulfide from the sour liquefied petroleum gas by:(a) contacting the liquefied petroleum gas in an extraction column with a liquid and regenerable absorbent to obtain purified liquefied petroleum gas;(b) supplying the purified liquefied petroleum gas to a membrane unit comprising a membrane selected from a permselective membrane and a porous hydrophobic membrane, a permeate outlet and a retentate outlet; and(c) removing from the permeate outlet of the membrane unit treated liquefied petroleum gas and from the retentate outlet of the membrane unit contaminated liquefied petroleum gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Jayantilal B. Rajani, Thijme Last, Michel Guirguis, Johannes L. W. C. Den Boestert, Hendrik C. Rijkens
  • Patent number: 5284635
    Abstract: A process for the removal of hydrogen sulfide present in a composition comprising treating the composition with a water-in-oil emulsion wherein said water-in-oil emulsion containing by weight about: 20 to 80% of a dispersed aqueous phase containing about 20 to 70% of one or more aldehydes chosen from the group constituted by formaldehyde, glyoxal, glutaraldehyde, glycolaldehyde or glyoxylic acid and 80 to 30% of an aqueous solution containing 90 to 100% water and 10 to 0% of a buffer agent pH=5.5.+-.1.5; and 80 to 20% of a continuous oil phase containing about 90 to 99% of one or more saturated and liquid C.sub.6 -C.sub.16 hydrocarbons, and 10 to 1% of an emulsifying system constituted by one or more water-in-oil emulsifying agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Societe Francaise Hoechst
    Inventor: Mabire Frederic
  • Patent number: 5225159
    Abstract: A method is provided for treating a sewage sludge-derived oil having a particular chemical composition, to reduce its odor. The method includes the first step of distilling the sewage sludge-derived oil to 150.degree. C. to remove water and volatile organic components, and then the essential step of circulating a gas consisting essentially of carbon dioxide gas therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Inventors: Henry Sawatzky, Terrance Giddings, Brian Farnand
  • Patent number: 5167797
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for removal of sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbons using processes which rely upon the reaction of organosulfur compounds with N-halogeno compounds. The sulfur removal may be effected by using liquid/liquid extraction processes or one of two reactive adsorption processes involving injecting a stoichiometric amount of N-halogeno compounds into hydrocarbon and then passing the stream through an adsorbent column to adsorb the N-halogeno-sulfur compounds and any unreacted N-halogeno compounds; or using adsorbents which are pre-loaded with N-halogeno compounds which are placed in a fixed-bed column for sulfur removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Company Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Y. Ou
  • Patent number: 4909925
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide is scavenged from a feedstock comprising crude oil and hydrogen sulphide by adding a compound of general formula ##STR1## to the feedstock. R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkyl aryl group wherein the alkyl moiety contains 1 to 18 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group.Preferred scavengers include acetic anhydride and triacetamide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventors: Philip K. G. Hodgson, Julie A. McShea, Edward J. Tinley
  • Patent number: 4808765
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process for treating liquid (liquifiable) and gaseous hydrocarbons to remove substantially all of the acid gases including COS by contacting the hydrocarbon streams with specific aqueous treating agents in a series of sequential specific limit operations and apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Roscoe L. Pearce, Richard A. Wolcott
  • Patent number: 4802973
    Abstract: Hydrogen sulphide is scavenged from a feedstock comprising crude oil and hydrogen sulphide by adding a compound of general formula: ##STR1## to the feedstock. X and Y are carbon or nitrogen atoms and the interatomic bond is triple or double as appropriate. Any two or more of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are organic groups containing electronegative functional groups. The remaining two or less of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are hydrocarbyl groups, hydrogen atoms or zero.Preferred scavengers include di-isopropylazo dicarboxylate and dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
    Inventors: Philip K. G. Hodgson, Julie A. McShea, Edward J. Tinely
  • Patent number: 4778591
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for removing metals contaminants, particularly calcium compounds, from hydrocarbonaceous feedstocks using aqueous carbonic acids, its salts, or mixtures thereof as the metals extraction agent. The hydrocarbonaceous layer and aqueous layers are then separated and the demetalated hydrocarbonaceous feedstock is removed for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: John G. Reynolds
  • Patent number: 4746420
    Abstract: A process for upgrading diesel oil comprising the steps of:(1) reacting the diesel oil with a nitrogenous treating agent;(2) contacting the diesel oil from step (1) above with(a) a primary solvent selected from the group consisting of organic solvents having a dipole moment of about 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: REI Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Saeed T. Darian, Sayed-Hamid Arabshahi
  • Patent number: 4719000
    Abstract: 1. A process for reducing the sulfur content of petroleum asphaltenes containing sulfur comprising:(1) forming a mixture of petroleum asphaltenes containing sulfur and a liquid selected from the group consisting of water, methanol, carbon dioxide and mixtures thereof;(2) raising the temperature and pressure of the mixture to a temperature and pressure above the critical temperature and pressure of the liquid to convert the liquid to a supercritical fluid;(3) maintaining the mixture above the critical temperature and pressure of the liquid for a time sufficient to effect sulfur reduction;(4) reducing the pressure to a second lower pressure; and(5) recovering petroleum asphaltenes reduced in sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: LaVern H. Beckberger
  • Patent number: 4642175
    Abstract: The coking tendencies of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks are reduced by treatment with a free radical removing catalyst such as a transition metal naphthenate, preferably at temperatures below 350.degree. C. The treated product has improved stability as such and may be treated in subsequent processing operations such as catalytic cracking and thermal cracking, including visbreaking and coking, with improved liquid yield and reduced coke production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Leslie R. Rudnick
  • Patent number: 4464251
    Abstract: Metals, nitrogen and/or sulfur, particularly vanadium, nickel and nitrogen, are removed from organic compositions, particularly heavy hydrocarbon oils, by contacting the organic compositions with a halogenating agent, preferably phosphorus oxychloride, under conditions sufficient to form a distinct phase including the contaminants, which is separable from the organic composition and separating the distinct phase from the organic composition as by filtration, decantation, and the like. In another embodiment of the present invention, the treatment with the halogenating agent is carried out in conjunction with treatment with an acid gas and water, as a combination of carbon dioxide and water, or a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Semyon G. Kukes, Jesse R. Harris, Robert L. Banks
  • Patent number: 4430204
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing hydrocarbon-soluble anionic surfactants from gasoline or kerosene boiling range hydrocarbons. The method comprises (a) contacting a hydrocarbon mixture containing surfactants with a lower alcohol which is miscible with the hydrocarbon mixture to extract the surfactants; (b) contacting the mixture with water or caustic solution to extract the lower alcohol and surfactants from the hydrocarbon mixture; (c) separating the water or caustic solution from the hydrocarbons; and (d) removing the hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1984
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Aiello, George Stefanidakis, Dwayne E. Poling
  • Patent number: 4383916
    Abstract: A process for sweetening and desulfurizing a sulfur-containing hydrocarbon stream boiling at a temperature less than about 650.degree. F. The process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon stream with an oxidic catalyst at a temperature of about 300 to 650.degree. F. and at a pressure of about 1 to 5 atmospheres. The oxidic catalyst comprises a molecular sieve selected from the group consisting of hydrogen-form molecular sieves and rare-earth-form molecular sieves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: L. Charles Gutberlet, Ralph J. Bertolacini, Allen A. Kozinski, Craig L. Hooper
  • Patent number: 4297206
    Abstract: An improvement in the solvent extraction of nonhydrocarbons from a synfuel liquid, e.g., shale oil, involves that the extract from the extractor, rather than being recycled directly back to the extractor, is first hydrotreated. A further improvement involves that a portion of the hydrotreated extract is fractionated and a light fraction is returned to the extractor. Use of the hydrotreated extract as recycle increases the efficiency of the extractor. A still further improvement involves the use as a selective solvent of one of the following: dialkylformamide, aldehydomorpholine, keto-morpholine, morpholine or an aliphatic aromatic ketone. These preferred solvents have the advantage of providing a clear interface between the extract and raffinate in the extractor. Removal of the nonhydrocarbons permits production of more hydrocarbons having enhanced utility as a jet fuel from a synfuel liquid than otherwise would be possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Suntech, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward G. Scheibel
  • Patent number: 4171260
    Abstract: This invention provides a method for reducing the level of thiophenic sulfur compounds in a heavy carbonaceous oil feed which involves contacting the oil feed with a C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkanol in the presence of a non-acidic zeolite catalyst.The reaction equilibrium in the process favors the displacement of thiophene sulfur atoms by oxygen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1979
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Malvina Farcasiu, Eric J. Y. Scott
  • Patent number: 3977203
    Abstract: A gaseous stream (such as a "sour" natural gas stream) composed chiefly of a normally gaseous light hydrocarbon or alkane, such as methane, ethane, propane, or mixtures thereof, containing undesirable constituents, impurities or contaminants, such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water vapor, nitrogen and helium, is mixed with a polar organic liquid, such as methanol, or an aqueous solution of said liquid, such as an aqueous solution of methanol. The resulting mixture is cooled and liquefied and the resulting two-phase liquid mixture (comprising a light phase rich in the desired light hydrocarbon and an impurities-rich heavy phase of said polar organic liquid) is extracted with said polar organic liquid to recover said light hydrocarbon in the liquefied state, e.g. as liquefied, "sweet" natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Kansas University Endowment Association
    Inventors: Robert A. Hinton, Fred Kurata
  • Patent number: 3945914
    Abstract: A process for reducing the sulfur content of hydrocarbon material by oxidizing the sulfur impurities contained in the hydrocarbon material, contacting the oxidized sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material with at least one of certain metal containing components at conditions to form a metal, sulfur-containing compound and recovering a hydrocarbon material of reduced sulfur content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jin Sun Yoo, Andrew P. Voss