GB1082509A - Process for catalytic refining of hydrocarbons containing organic sulphur compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for the catalytic refining of hydrocarbons, such as petroleum distillates and gaseous hydrocarbons, containing organic sulphur compounds, comprises forming a vapour mixture of such hydrocarbon and water that accounts for one-half to two-thirds of the volume of the mixture, and passing such mixture at a temperature in the range 250 DEG to 450 DEG C. and at a positive pressure of up to 40 atmospheres through a reactor charged with a highly active nickel catalyst (defined) with a space velocity in the range, approximately, 200 to 500 standard cubic metres per cubic metre per hour, the conditions in said reactor being such that from 1 to 3% of said hydrocarbon in the mixture is converted to hydrogen, methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide whilst the sulphur compounds, any nitrogen compounds and any unsaturated compounds in said mixture are hydrogenated, the hydrogen sulphide so produced being absorbed by the catalyst which, when hydrogen sulphide appears in the gas leaving the reactor, is removed from the process and regenerated with superheated steam at about 400 DEG C. The highly active nickel catalyst is defined as a catalyst in which a nickel compound reducible with hydrogen at a temperature above 250 DEG C. is applied to a carrier substance in very finely divided form. In order to obtain desulphurization to less than 1 p.p.m., a two-stage process may be used, the two stages both operating under the specified physical conditions, only the catalyst in the second stage being subject to removal and regeneration. An example describes the desulphurization of gasoline.