GB770830A - Improvements in or relating to desulfurization of fluidized coke particles having high sulfur content - Google Patents

Abstract

770,830. Desulphurization of petroleum coke; coking petroleum oils. ESSO RESEARCH & ENGINEERING CO. June 14, 1955 [July 7, 1954], No. 17144/55. Classes 50 and 55 (1). In a process for the desulphurization of or reducing the sulphur content of petroleum coke, containing, e.g. 4-7 per cent by weight of sulphur, the coke particles are contacted with a gas containing free hydrogen at a temperature between 1100‹ and 1800‹ F., preferably 1300‹-1500‹ F., and a pressure between 30 and 300 lbs. per sq. in., preferably 50-250 Ibs. per sq. in., the amount of hydrogen utilized being between 1500 and 6000 v/v/hr., preferably 2500-5000 v/v/hr., where by the sulphur content of the coke is reduced to below 3 per cent by weight. The treatment may last for between 20 minutes and 5 hours and may be conducted while the particles are in the fluidized state, or in a fixed or moving fixed bed. Steam may be added as a diluent to the hydrogen containing gas. The petroleum coke particles are supplied from a process in which a heavy petroleum oil is coked by being sprayed into a fluidized bed of coke particles. The coking zone is maintained at a temperature between 850‹ and 1200‹ F. and a pressure of 1-10 atmospheres and the coke particles have an average size between 100 and 1000 microns. In an example, a coke initially containing 7.1 per cent by weight of sulphur was treated at a temperature of 1300‹ F. and a pressure of 150 lbs. per sq. in. for 1 hour, the sulphur content of the coke being reduced to 1.7 per cent by weight. The rate of flow of hydrogen was 3500 v/v/hr.