Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of reducing sulfur- or nitrogen-containing compounds and also producing oxygenates, which can be used as an excellent octane booster in the reformulated gasoline and as a cetane booster for the future oxygenated diesel in a one-pot reaction.

Abstract: High surface area iron oxides that can be ferroxane-derived iron oxides are described, as well as methods of using the same to remove at least a portion of one or more sulfur-containing species from a gas stream or liquid stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressed metal oxide composition particle comprised of metal oxide and an organic binder, with the binder preferably being a water insoluble cellulose composition. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a compressed metal oxide composition particle, with the preferred method including compressing a metal oxide and binder mixture to form compressed metal oxide composition particles having a final particle size of between about 0.1 mm and about 200 mm.

Abstract: A continuous process for upgrading sour crude oil by treating the sour crude oil in a two step process that includes a hydro-demetallization section and a hydro-desulfurization section, both of which are constructed in a permutable fashion so as to optimize the operating conditions and catalyst lifespan to produce a high value crude oil having low sulfur and low organometallic impurities.

Abstract: The invention provides an optimum method for utilizing a desulfurizing agent for liquid hydrocarbons which can efficiently remove sulfur content from kerosene without performing addition of hydrogen to a low sulfur concentration and which has a prolonged lifetime. The invention provides a desulfurization method which includes removing sulfur content from kerosene by use of a metallic desulfurizing agent without performing addition of hydrogen, characterized in that the method employs desulfurization conditions satisfying the following formula (1): 1.06×Pope0.44<Tope/T50<1.78×Pope0.22??(1) (wherein Tope is operation temperature (° C.); Pope is operation pressure (MPa); and T50 is a temperature per 50 percent recovered as determined by “test method for distillation at atmospheric pressure” stipulated in JIS K2254 “Petroleum products—Determination of distillation characteristics as revised in 1998”).

Abstract: The invention provides a desulfurizing agent which attains effective removal of sulfur from a hydrocarbon feedstock and/or an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon feedstock so as to attain a considerably low sulfur level and which has a long service life; a process for producing hydrogen for fuel cells, which process includes steam-reforming, partial-oxidation-reforming, or autothermal-reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock and/or an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon feedstock which has been desulfurized by use of the desulfurizing agent; a fuel cell system employing hydrogen produced through the process. The desulfurizing agent for removing a sulfur compound from a hydrocarbon feedstock and/or an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon feedstock, the agent containing nickel, or a combination of nickel and copper, and silicon, and having a bulk density of 0.95 to 2.0 g/cm3, a pore volume of 0.10 to 0.40 mL/g, a micropore surface area of 100 to 250 m2/g, and an external surface area of 100 m2/g or less.

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: Compositions and processes are disclosed for removing sulfur and sulfur compounds from hydrocarbon fuel feedstocks. The feedstock is contacted with a regenerable sorbent such as a compound of the formula TixCeyO2 where 0<x/y?1 and where 0<x?1 and 0<y?1 capable of selectively adsorbing sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock at about 0° C. to about 100° C. such as at about 25° C.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream wherein desulfurization is enhanced by improving the contacting of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream and sulfur-sorbing solid particulates in a fluidized bed reactor.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon oil-impregnated composition that comprises a support material having incorporated therein a metal component and impregnated with a hydrocarbon oil. The hydrocarbon oil-impregnated composition is useful in the hydrotreating of hydrocarbon feedstocks, and it is especially useful in applications involving delayed feed introduction whereby the hydrocarbon oil-impregnated composition is first treated with hot hydrogen, and, optionally, a sulfur compound, prior to contacting it with a hydrocarbon feedstock under hydrodesulfurization process conditions.

Abstract: Processes and systems associated with hydrodynamic cavitation-catalyzed oxidation of sulfur-containing substances in a fluid are described. In one example method, carbonaceous fluid is combined with at least one oxidant to form a mixture and then the mixture is flowed through at least one local constriction in a flow-through chamber at a sufficient pressure and flow rate to create hydrodynamic cavitation in the flowing mixture having a power density of between about 3,600 kWatts/cm2 and about 56,000 kWatts/cm2 measured at the surface of the local constriction normal to the direction of fluid flow. The creation of hydrodynamic cavitation in the flowing mixture initiates one or more chemical reactions that, at least in part, oxidize at least some of the sulfur-containing substances in the carbonaceous fluid.

Abstract: A desulfurization system is operated in a manner which optimizes sulfur removal and octane retention. When the desulfurization reactor is operated at a specific ratio of total pressure to hydrogen partial pressure (PT/PH) and/or within a specific temperature range, optimum sulfur removal and octane retention are realized. The desulfurization reactor can be maintained at these optimized operating conditions by automatically adjusting one or more operating parameters of the desulfurization reactor in order to maintain a substantially constant hydrogen partial pressure (PH) in the reactor. Maintaining a relatively constant hydrogen partial pressure (PH) in the desulfurization reactor helps ensure a relatively consistent degree of desulfurization.

Abstract: A method for removal of corrosive compounds from insulating oil. The insulating oil is exposed to at least one reducing agent.

Abstract: An integrated fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and desulfurization system for processing hydrocarbon-containing fluids. The integrated system employs a cracking/desulfurization unit having a reactor, a regenerator, and a reducer. A mixture of solid FCC catalyst particulates and solid sulfur sorbent particulates are circulated through the reactor, regenerator, and reducer to provide for substantially continuous cracking and desulfurization of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid, as well as substantially continuous regeneration of both the FCC catalyst and the sulfur sorbent.

Abstract: A catalyst for hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feed has been developed. The catalyst comprises a metal phosphide and promoter metal component as the catalytic component. At least a portion of the metal promoter component is deposited on the metal phosphide. The metal phosphide/promoter metal component combination is dispersed on a refractive inorganic oxide support. An example of this catalyst is where the metal phosphide is nickel phosphide, the promoter metal is molybdenum and the support is alumina. Methods of preparing the catalyst and hydrotreating processes using the catalyst are also described.

Abstract: Propane and/or butanes are separated from a hydrocarbon feedstock contaminated with alkyl mercaptans by fractional distillation at such a pressure that the separated overheads stream containing said propane and/or butanes is at a temperature in the range 50 to 100° C. Sufficient oxygen is introduced into the hydrocarbon feedstock to oxidise the mercaptans therein and the resultant mixture is subjected to the fractional distillation in a column including at least one bed of a catalyst capable, under the prevailing conditions, of oxidising the mercaptans to higher boiling point sulphur compounds. These higher boiling point sulphur compounds are separated as part of the liquid phase from the distillation.

Abstract: A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.

Abstract: An adsorbent composition comprising a nanostructured titanium oxide material of the formula TiO2-, where 0?×?1 with nanotubular and/or nanofibrilar morphology, high oxygen deficiency, having an orthorhombic JT crystalline phase described by at least one of the space groups 59 Pmmn, 63 Amma, 71Immm or 63 Bmmb, and comprising between 0 and 20 weight percent of a transition metal oxide is used for the selective adsorption of nitrogen compounds and/or sulfur compounds from light and intermediate petroleum fractions.

Abstract: A method for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream (10) containing heterocyclic sulfur compounds, which process comprises contacting the heterocyclic sulfur compounds in the gas phase (60) in the presence of oxygen (70) with a supported metal oxide catalyst, or with a bulk metal oxide catalyst (600) to convert at least a portion of the heterocyclic sulfur compounds to oxygenated products as well as sulfur-deficient hydrocarbons and separately recovering the oxygenated products separately from a hydrocarbon stream with substantially reduced sulfur.

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: The invention relates to a zeolite of the ZSM-12 type, especially for the hydroisomerization of higher paraffins, which has a primary crystal size of <0.1 ?m; as well as a specific volume, determined by mercury porosimetry at a maximum pressure of 4000 bar, of 30-200 mm3/g in a pore radius range of 4-10 nm; and which has further been prepared from a synthesis gel composition comprising an aluminum source, precipitated silica as a silicon source, TEA+ as a template, an alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal ion source M having the valency n; in which the molar H2O:SiO2 ratio is selected between 5 and 15. The invention further relates to a catalyst comprising the above zeolite and its use.

Abstract: A process for hydrodesulphurizing gasoline cuts is carried out in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one group VIII element, at least one group VIB element, and a support with a specific surface area of less than about 200 m2/g, wherein the density of the group VIB elements per unit surface area of the support is in the range 4×10?4 to 36×10?4 g of group VIB element oxides per m2 of the support.

Abstract: Processes are disclosed for removing sulfur, including cyclic and polycyclic organic sulfur components such as thiophenes and benzothiophenes, from a hydrocarbon feedstock including fuels and fuel components. The feedstock is contacted with a regenerable sorbent material capable of selectively adsorbing the sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock in the absence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst. In one embodiment, the sorbent can be an active metal oxide sulfur sorbent in combination with a refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst support. In another embodiment, the sorbent can be a metal-substituted refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst wherein the metal is a metal which is capable in its oxide form, of adsorption of reduced sulfur compounds by conversion of the metal oxide to a metal sulfide. The processes are preferably carried out in a transport bed reactor.

Abstract: A desulfurizing agent comprising a silica-alumina carrier having an Si/Al mole ratio of 10 or less and nickel carried thereon; a desulfurizing agent for hydrocarbons derived from petroleum which comprises a carrier and a metal component carried thereon and has a specific surface area of pores having a pore diameter of 3 nm or less of 100 m2/g or more; an Ni-Cu based desulfurizing agent comprising a carrier and, carried thereon, (A) nickel, (B) copper, and (C) an alkali metal or another metal; a desulfurizing agent for hydrocarbons derived from petroleum which comprises a carrier and a metal component carried thereon and has a hydrogen adsorption capacity of 0.4 mmol/g or more; and methods for producing these nickel-based and nickel-copper-based desulfurizing agents. The above desulfurizing agents are capable of adsorbing and removing with good efficiency the sulfur contained in hydrocarbons derived from petroleum to a content of 0.2 wt. ppm or less and have a long service life.

Abstract: A composition comprising a metal oxide, a silica-containing material, a gallium-containing material, an aluminum-containing material, and a promoter, wherein at least a portion of the promoter is present as a reduced-valence promoter and methods of preparing such composition are disclosed. The thus-obtained composition is employed in a desulfurization zone to remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A process for the extractive oxidation of contaminants from raw hydrocarbon streams rich in heteroatomic polar compounds is described, the said process involving the extractive oxidation of sulfur and nitrogen compounds from said streams, the said process comprising treating said streams with a peroxide solution/organic acid couple, the weight percent of the peroxide solution and organic acid based on raw hydrocarbon being at least 3 for both the peroxide and organic acid solution, under an acidic pH, atmospheric or higher pressure and ambient or higher temperature. As a result of the reaction, the oxidized heteroatomic compounds, having strong affinity for the aqueous phase, are extracted into said aqueous phase, while the oxidized hydrocarbon is neutralized, water washed and dried, the resulting end product being a hydrocarbon stream from which have been removed 88.1 wt % or more of total nitrogen compounds and basic nitrogen up to 99.1 wt %, both calculated as mass contents, total Sulfur 23.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon desulfurization system employing regenerable solid sorbent particulates in a fluidized bed desulfurization reactor. The sulfur-loaded sorbent particulates are continuously withdrawn from the reactor and transferred to a regenerator. A novel solids transport mechanism provides for the safe and effective transfer of the sulfur-loaded sorbent particulates from the high pressure hydrocarbon environment of the reactor to the low pressure oxygen environment of the regenerator.

Abstract: A process for the upgrading of raw hydrocarbon streams rich in heteroatomic polar compounds and/or unsaturated moieties involving the extractive oxidation of sulfur, nitrogen, conjugated dienes and other unsaturated compounds from said streams, the said process comprising treating said streams with a peroxide solution/organic acid couple and an iron oxide catalyst which is a limonite ore, under an acidic pH, atmospheric pressure and ambient or higher temperature. As a result of the reaction, the oxidized heteroatomic compounds, having strong affinity for the aqueous slurry phase, are extracted into said aqueous phase, while the oxidized hydrocarbon is separated from catalyst by decanting, neutralizing, water washing and drying, the resulting end product being a hydrocarbon stream from which have been removed 90% or more of total nitrogen compounds and basic nitrogen up to 99.7%, both calculated as mass contents.

Abstract: A composition comprising a metal oxide and a promoter, wherein at least a portion of the promoter is present as a reduced valence promoter, and methods of preparing such composition are disclosed. The thus-obtained composition is employed in a desulfurization zone to remove sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A novel process effective for the removal of organic sulfur compounds, organic nitrogen compounds and light olefins from liquid hydrocarbons is disclosed. The process more specifically addresses the removal of these contaminants from aromatic compounds including benzene and toluene and from naphtha. The liquid hydrocarbons are contacted with a blend of at least one metal oxide and an acidic zeolite. Preferably, the metal oxide comprises nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide and the acidic zeolite is acidic stabilized zeolite Y. This blend has a significant capacity for adsorption of impurities and can be regenerated by oxidative treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the removal of nitrogen and sulfur containing impurities from high molecular weight petroleum feedstock obtained from fluid cracking catalyst or distillation zone of a petroleum treatment plant. The present process comprises first treating C12 and higher hydrocarbon petroleum feedstock having nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds therein with a porous, particulate adsorbent comprising a silica matrix having an effective amount of metal atoms therein to cause the adsorbent to have Lewis acidity of at least 500 ?mol/g and then treating the resultant feedstock to catalytic hydrodesulfurization to produce a hydrocarbon fuel having low sulfur and nitrogen content.

Abstract: A process for removing sulfur compounds from hydrocarbon streams by contacting the hydrocarbon stream, especially a gasoline stream, with an adsorbent material. The adsorbent material is regenerated with hydrogen or a hydrogen/H2S mixture.

Abstract: A method of using a diesel reforming strategy is disclosed. The method comprises supplying diesel fuel to a fractional distillation device. The diesel fuel is fractionally distilled to produce a light fuel stream and a heavy fuel stream. The light fuel stream is reformed in a reformer to produce a reformate. A method of making an apparatus for a diesel fuel reforming strategy and a method for using a fuel cell system is also disclosed. A fuel cell system for diesel fuel reforming is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon feedstock to a value of less than 200 ppm, preferably less than 50 ppm, which comprises subjecting a catalyst comprising a Group VIB metal component, a Group VIII metal component, and an organic additive on a carrier to a sulfidation step, and contacting a feedstock with a 95% boiling point of 450° C. or less and a sulfur content of 500 ppm or less with the sulfided catalyst under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure to form a product with a sulfur content of less than 200 ppm. The organic additive preferably is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds comprising at least two hydroxyl groups and 2-10 carbon atoms, and the (poly)ethers of these compounds.

Abstract: The sulfur content of liquid cracking products, especially the cracked gasoline, of the catalytic cracking process is reduced by the use of a sulfur reduction catalyst composition comprising a porous molecular sieve which contains a metal in an oxidation state above zero within the interior of the pore structure of the sieve as well as a cerium component which enhances the stability and sulfur reduction activity of the catalyst. The molecular sieve is normally a faujasite such as USY. The primary sulfur reduction component is normally a metal of Period 3 of the Periodic Table, preferably vanadium. The sulfur reduction catalyst may be used in the form of a separate particle additive or as a component of an integrated cracking/sulfur reduction catalyst.

Abstract: The invention relates to: a process for the desulphurization of feed streams comprising: supplying a hot process stream to a lead catalyst bed (8) comprising a first sulphur-removing catalyst and a second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the first sulphur-removing catalyst and said second sulphur-removing catalyst does not effectively remove sulphur from the stream at the operating temperature of the lead catalyst bed for the duration of the bed's life; collecting a hot partially sulphur-depleted stream from the lead catalyst bed and cooling said stream; passing said cooled stream through a lag catalyst bed (11) comprising the first sulphur-removing catalyst and the second sulphur-removing catalyst under conditions whereby sulphur is removed from the process stream by the second sulphur-removing catalyst and said first sulphur-removing catalyst removes sulphur less efficiently from the stream at the operating temperature of the lag catalyst bed;

Abstract: In a desulfurization process for the removal of organosulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid stream such as cracked-gasoline or diesel fuel wherein a bifunctional sorbent system is employed, surface treatment of the bifunctional sorbent during the use of same for desulfurization results in an extension of the useful life of the bifunctional sorbent prior to the regeneration and reactivation of same for further use in the desulfurization of the hydrocarbon fluid stream.

Abstract: The sulfur content of liquid cracking products, especially the cracked gasoline, of the catalytic cracking process is reduced by the use of a sulfur reduction additive comprising a porous molecular sieve which contains a metal in an oxidation state above zero within the interior of the pore structure of the sieve. The molecular sieve is normally a large pore size zeolite such as USY or zeolite beta or an intermediate pore size zeolite such as ZSM-5. The metal is normally a metal of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, preferably zinc or vanadium. The sulfur reduction catalyst may be used in the form of a separate particle additive or as a component of an integrated cracking/sulfur reduction catalyst.

Abstract: The sulfur content of liquid cracking products, especially the cracked gasoline, of the catalytic cracking process is reduced by the use of a sulfur reduction catalyst composition comprising a porous molecular sieve which contains a metal in an oxidation state above zero within the interior of the pore structure of the sieve as well as a rare earth component which enhances the cracking activity of the cracking catalyst. The molecular sieve is normally a faujasite such as USY. The primary sulfur reduction component is normally a metal of Period 4 of the Periodic Table, preferably vanadium. The rare earth component preferably includes cerium which enhances the sulfur reduction activity of the catalyst. The sulfur reduction catalyst may be used in the form of a separate particle additive or as a component of an integrated cracking/sulfur reduction catalyst.

Abstract: The sulfur content of a liquid hydrocarbon stream is reduced under mild conditions by contracting a sulfur-containing liquid hydrocarbon stream with transition metal particles containing the transition metal in a zero oxidation state under conditions sufficient to provide a hydrocarbon product having a reduced sulfur content and metal sulfide particles. The transition metal particles can be produced in situ by adding a transition metal precursor, e.g., a transition metal carbonyl compound, to the sulfur-containing liquid feed stream and sonicating the feed steam/transition metal precursor combination under conditions sufficient to produce the transition metal particles.

Abstract: A method for desulfurization of hydrocarbon comprising reducing the sulfur content of hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds, which comprises mixing the hydrocarbons containing sulfur compounds with water vapor, and contacting the resultant mixture with a catalyst comprising an inorganic oxide support and either platinum or palladium fixed to the support, and with a desulfurizing material at a temperature of 300° C. or higher.

Abstract: A desulfurization system employing fluidizable and circulatable finely divided solid sorbent particulates that are transported between reactor, regenerator, and reducer vessels. Agglomeration of the sorbent particulates is minimized and circulation of the sorbent particulates is enhanced by controlling the location at which the sorbent particulates are withdrawn from the reducer.

Abstract: A method for removing thiophene and thiophene compounds from liquid fuel includes contacting the liquid fuel with an adsorbent which preferentially adsorbs the thiophene and thiophene compounds. The adsorption takes place at a selected temperature and pressure, thereby producing a non-adsorbed component and a thiophene/thiophene compound-rich adsorbed component. The adsorbent includes either a metal or a metal cation that is adapted to form &pgr;-complexation bonds with the thiophene and/or thiophene compounds, and the preferential adsorption occurs by &pgr;-complexation. A further method includes selective removal of aromatic compounds from a mixture of aromatic and aliphatic compounds.

Abstract: A sorbent composition comprising a support and a reduced-valence noble metal can be used to desulfurize a hydrocarbon-containing fluid such as cracked-gasoline or diesel fuel.

Abstract: A process for the catalytic selective oxidation of sulfur compounds in a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock to sulfur dioxide is provided. A gaseous feed mixture of the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock and a molecular-oxygen containing gas is contacted with a catalyst at a temperature of at most 500 ° C., wherein the oxygen-to-carbon ratio of the feed mixture is below 0.15. The catalyst contains a group VIII noble metal on a catalyst carrier. The formed sulfur dioxide can be removed from the hydrocarbonaceous feedstock.

Abstract: A novel hydrocarbon feedstream catalyst bed for the desulfurization of a gas or a liquid hydrocarbon feedstream and a process comprising passing a hydrocarbon feedstream over the catalyst bed is described. The bed comprises at least two catalysts having different sulfur compound affinities and/or specificities thereby improving the overall amount of sulfur compound removal. The process reduces the sulfur content in a gas hydrocarbon feedstream from up to about 300 ppm to less than about 500 ppb, and in a liquid hydrocarbon feedstream from up to about 3% to less than about 500 ppb.

Abstract: Desulfurization reactors, and fuel desulfurization systems incorporating them, comprise monolithic sulfur-adsorbent reactor packings having internal void spaces bounded by internal fuel contacting surfaces that support or contain active sulfur adsorbents for sulfur trapping, the reactors providing efficient fuel feed desulfurization at high liquid and/or gas feed rates and low pressure drops.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the removal of nitrogen and sulfur containing impurities from high molecular weight petroleum feedstock obtained from fluid cracking catalyst or distillation zone of a petroleum treatment plant. The present process comprises first treating C12 and higher hydrocarbon petroleum feedstock having nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds therein with a porous, particulate adsorbent comprising a silica matrix having an effective amount of metal atoms therein to cause the adsorbent to have Lewis acidity of at least 500 &mgr;mol/g and then treating the resultant feedstock to catalytic hydrodesulfurization to produce a hydrocarbon fuel having low sulfur and nitrogen content.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the removal of nitrogen and sulfur containing impurities from high molecular weight petroleum feedstock obtained from fluid cracking catalyst or distillation zone of a petroleum treatment plant. The present process comprises first treating C12 and higher hydrocarbon petroleum feedstock having nitrogen and sulfur containing compounds therein with a porous, particulate adsorbent comprising a silica matrix having an effective amount of metal atoms therein to cause the adsorbent to have Lewis acidity of at least 500 &mgr;mol/g and then treating the resultant feedstock to catalytic hydrodesulfurization to produce a hydrocarbon fuel having low sulfur and nitrogen content.

Abstract: A process for the upgrading of raw hydrocarbon streams rich in heteroatomic polar compounds and/or unsaturated moieties involving the extractive oxidation of sulfur, nitrogen, conjugated dienes and other unsaturated compounds from said streams, the said process comprising treating said streams with a peroxide solution/organic acid couple and an iron oxide catalyst which is a limonite ore, under an acidic pH, atmospheric pressure and ambient or higher temperature. As a result of the reaction, the oxidized heteroatomic compounds, having strong affinity for the aqueous slurry phase, are extracted into said aqueous phase, while the oxidized hydrocarbon is separated from catalyst by decanting, neutralizing, water washing and drying, the resulting end product being a hydrocarbon stream from which have been removed 90% or more of total nitrogen compounds and basic nitrogen up to 99.7%, both calculated as mass contents.