GB711926A - Improvements in or relating to process for sweetening hydrocarbon oils - Google Patents

Abstract

Mercaptan-containing hydrocarbon oils are sweetened by intimately contacting them, in the liquid state, with a catalyst consisting essentially of an inert adsorbent material, a copper salt as hereinafter defined and at least about 8 per cent. of water, at a temperature between about 190 DEG and 230 F., and in the presence of free oxygen. The copper salts employed are copper sulphate or a water-soluble copper sulphonate which is chosen from copper alkane sulphonates with not more than 10 carbon atoms in the molecule and copper aryl sulphonates in which those having alkyl substituents on the aromatic nucleus do not have more than a total of 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl substituents. Hydrocarbon oils mentioned are petroleum distillates such as naphthas, kerosene, Diesel oil, furnace oil and heater oil. The inert adsorbent material may be Fuller's earth, attapulgus clay, silica gel, act vated carbon or alumina. Copper sulphonates mentioned are copper benzene sulphonate, copper toluene sulphonate and copper sulphonates obtained from a mixture of methane, ethane, 1-propane, 2-propane and isobutane sulphonic acids. In an example, the hydrocarbon oil is washed with caustic soda to remove hydrogen sulphide and then passed through a rock salt filter to remove traces of caustic soda. The oil is then heated to 190-230 DEG F., saturated with water, and mixed with air or commercial oxygen. A slurry of catalyst and hot oil, the catalyst consisting of 72 per cent. by weight of Fuller's earth. 8 per cent. of copper sulphate and 20 per cent. of water, is then pumped in and the mixture allowed to settle. The oil is decanted, washed with water, cooled and finally passed through a salt filter. The catalyst may be revivified by addition of water to the spent catalyst-oil slurry and contacting this with oxygen.