SULFOXIDATION CATALYSTS AND METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF USING SAME

• US 20130130892A1
• Filed: 01/04/2013
• Published: 05/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auterra, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Auterra, Inc.
• Inventors: Litz, Kyle E., Dutta, Partha S., Jordan, Tracey M., Lewis, Sarah L., Loughran, Anthony J., Rossetti, Mark N., Vreeland, Jennifer L., Ullman, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,061,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 502/171
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/70 Oxidation reactions, e.g. epoxidation, (di)hydroxylation, dehydrogenation and analogues
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/46 Titanium
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/98 Phase-transfer catalysis in a mixed solvent system containing at least 2 immiscible solvents or solvent phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/0275 also containing elements or functional groups covered by B01J31/0201 - B01J31/0269
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/223 At least two oxygen atoms present in one at least bidentate or bridging ligand

Abstract

Catalysts amenable to oxidizing sulfur compounds and systems and methods of using these catalysts to effect the removal of sulfur from crude oil and crude oil distillates are disclosed. The catalyst is disposed with a titanyl moiety which serves to selectively coordinate sulfur compounds and affect their oxidation. The titanyl may be bound within a polymer or on the surface of a polymer or on the surface or in the pores of an inorganic support. The resulting oxidized sulfur compounds are readily separated from the initial crude oil or crude oil distillate streams by traditional separation techniques arrayed as described in the systems and methods disclosed.

Claims

1. A catalytic sulfoxidation reagent comprising:

a phase transfer agent/solvent

a catalyst comprising a metal complex represented by the general formula M_mO_m(OR)_n, wherein M is a metal complex;

R is carbon group having at least 3 carbon atoms, where at each occurrence R may individually be a substituted alkyl group containing at least one OH group, a substituted cycloalkyl group containing at least one OH group, a substituted cycloalkylalkyl group containing at least one OH group, a substituted heterocyclyl group containing at least one OH group, or a heterocyclylalkyl containing at least one OH group; and

the subscripts m and n may each independently be integers between about 1 and about 8; and

an oxidant dissolved in the phase transfer agent/solvent.

2. The reagent of claim 1 wherein the catalyst comprises:

bis(polyol)oxotitanium(IV);

wherein the catalyst is selected from the group consisting of bis(glycerol)oxotitanium(IV), bis(ethyleneglycol)oxotitanium(IV), bis(erythritol)oxotitanium(IV), bis(sorbitol)oxotitanium(IV), and mixtures thereof.

3. The reagent of claim 1, wherein the catalyst is dissolved in the phase transfer agent/solvent.

4. The reagent of claim 1, wherein M is titanium and/or zirconium.