GB1425850A - Process for producing hydrocarbon material of reduced sulphur content - Google Patents

Abstract

1425850 Desulphurizing hydrocarbons ATLANTIC RICHFIELD CO 29 May 1973 [30 June 1972] 25383/73 Heading C5E Hydrocarbon materials are treated to reduce their sulphur contents by preferentially oxidizing at least a portion of the sulphur with an oxidant selected from organic peroxides, organic hydroperoxides and organic peracids in the presence of a catalyst which has been prepared by treating metallic molybdenum with a peroxy compound in the presence of a C 1-4 saturated alcohol to solubilize at least a portion of the molybdenum, treating the oxidized sulphur-containing mixture to remove at least a portion of the sulphur from the hydrocarbon material. The feedstocks treated can be crude oil, atmospheric or vacuum residuals, cracking residues, tar sand oil, shale oil or coal oil. The catalyst can be prepared by treating molybdenum powder with t-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of t-butyl alcohol and a mixture of C 10-15 glycols containing 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups, at least one of which hydroxyl groups is primary. The oxidation can be carried out in the presence of 15-1000 p.p.m. dissolved molybdenum and an oxidant concentration equivalent to 0À1-10 atoms of active oxygen per atom of sulphur. The oxidant can be an impure t-butyl hydroperoxide, obtained by oxidation of isobutane and containing t-butyl alcohol. Sulphur can be removed from the oxidized hydrocarbon material by treatment with a base, by heating, by solvent refining or by hydrodesulphurization. In examples the oxidation is carried out by heating under reflux a mixture of oil feed, catalyst solution, t-butyl hydroperoxide oxidant and either benzene or t-butyl alcohol as oxidation solvent; the oxidized material is stripped to remove the oxidation solvent and heated at 734-800‹ F. with a purge of hydrogen to remove sulphur.