GB802609A - Method of desulfurizing hydrocarbon oil - Google Patents

Abstract

Hydrocarbon oils are desulphurized by contacting in the presence of hydrogen at 600-1000 DEG F. with a catalyst comprising the product obtained by calcining for 1 or more hours at 1400-2000 DEG F., an intimate mixture of a cobalt compound and a zirconium compound (both compounds being decomposed to the oxide at the calcination temperature), the mixture containing 1-4 mols. cobalt per mol. of zirconium. Cobalt compounds referred to are cobalt carbonate, hydroxide, oxalate, nitrate and chloride; zirconium compounds specified are zirconium oxide, hydroxide nitrate and oxalate. The mixture of compounds may be mixed by ball milling in the dry or wet state, e.g. as a water or methanol slurry; after mixing the slurrying medium is vaporized. The calcination product may be used as such or may be pulverized and pelletted with binders, for example, 1-2 per cent hydrogenated corn oil or stearic acid, which are then burnt off from the pellets. The catalyst may be used with a carrier such as activated alumina, bauxite or alumina gel. A fixed bed or fluidized catalyst may be used. The catalyst may be regenerated by burning off the impurities with dilute oxygen, such as a mixture of flue gas and air. The desulphurization may be carried out at 100-3000 p.s.i.g., and using 500-5000 s.c.f. H2/bbl. of oil and a space velocity of 0.5-20 v./v./hr. Extraneous hydrogen may be used or may be generated in the reactor as in the autofining process. Hydrocarbon oils referred to are petroleum and petroleum fractions, coal hydrogenation oils and shale oil, and the oils may be virgin or cracked oils. Fractions specified are naphthas, kerosene and gas oil, particularly olefinic naphthas, e.g. coke still naphtha.