GB713832A - Improvements relating to the catalytic desulphurisation of petroleum hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Petroleum feedstocks are desulphurized by passing in vapour form in admixture with hydrogen to at least three reaction zones in each of which the mixture is contacted with a sulphur-resistant catalyst, at such a temperature and pressure that the dehydrogenation of naphthenes is effected to such an extent to produce sufficient hydrogen to convert organically combined sulphur to hydrogen sulphide and to maintain the pressure in the reaction zone. The hydrogen-rich gas mixture produced is recycled to constitute the whole of the hydrogen supplied to the reaction zones, the passage of the gas being discontinued to each zone in turn so that the catalyst therein may be regenerated. The process may be carried out at a temperature of 750-800 DEG F. and a pressure of 50-200 p.s.i. The preferred catalyst is a mixture of the oxides of cobalt and molybdenum, compounds of cobalt, molybdenum and oxygen, or mixtures thereof. The treatment of gas oils and aromatic extracts such as SO2 kerosine extracts is described. Static bed reactors may be used. The Provisional Specification also refers to the use in general of a plurality of reactors, and Specifications 654,152, 663,038, 669,536, 669,552, 669,553, 697,083, 697,222, 697,226, 697,227, 697,724, 697,727, and 706,842 are referred to.