GB798395A - Method of decomposing sulphur and/or nitrogen compounds - Google Patents

Abstract

Sulphur and/or organic nitrogen compounds and/or organic oxygen-containing compounds are removed from normally liquid products boiling below 400 DEG C. obtained by dry distillation of solid carbonaceous fuels or products of the thermal or catalytic cracking of liquid hydrocarbons, by hydrofining under pressure and at elevated temperature in the presence of catalysts consisting of oxides and/or sulphides of tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, nickel, cobalt, iron and other metals of the 6th and 8th groups, in the presence of carbon monoxide and hydrogen-containing gases obtained from coking, low temperature carbonization, gas producer, hydrogenation or cracking plants or natural gas, to produce a gas of higher calorific value than the starting gas; and mixing the gas from the hydrofining treatment with another combustible gas of lower calorific value containing carbon monoxide, e.g. coal gas, and using the mixture as a fuel. Starting products referred to are oils such as petroleum, tars, tar mixtures or distillates thereof, or products obtained by the distillation or gasification of coal; crude benzene is referred to. The catalysts may contain activators, such as magnesium oxide and zinc oxide, and/or carrier substances, e.g. aluminium oxide and fuller's earth. The catalysts may be used in the form of a fixed or fluidized bed. The pressure may be less than 300 atm. g. and the amount of gas used may be 300-3000 cu. m./cu. m. of catalyst/hour. The gases may be obtained by gasefication of solid fuels with oxygen or oxygen-enriched air and water vapour, under a pressure of several atmospheres. The gas from the hydrofining treatment may be washed with the product to be purified or the purified product to remove C1-C4 hydrocarbons, and may be recycled to the hydrofining zone.