Removal of sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream by low severity adsorption
First Claim
1. A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity comprising:
- providing a hydrocarbon stream containing a sulfur constituent;
heating said hydrocarbon stream to a contacting temperature greater than ambient, but not greater than the reflux temperature of said hydrocarbon stream;
contacting said heated hydrocarbon stream at said contacting temperature and at a contacting pressure not greater than about 698 kPa with a sorbent including a metal-exchanged zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least about 1.5;
1; and
adsorbing said sulfur constituent contained in said hydrocarbon stream onto said sorbent to reduce the sulfur content of said hydrocarbon stream.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process is provided for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream, wherein a hydrocarbon stream containing sulfur constituents is contacted with a sorbent under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity. The sorbent includes a metal-exchanged zeolite selected from a group consisting of Y zeolites, ultra-stable Y zeolites, and mixtures thereof. A preferred sorbent is a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst having a rare earth metal exchanged Y zeolite or ultra-stable Y zeolite. The sorbent adsorbs sulfur constituents contained in the hydrocarbon stream upon contact therewith to reduce the sulfur content of the hydrocarbon stream.
58 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity comprising:
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providing a hydrocarbon stream containing a sulfur constituent; heating said hydrocarbon stream to a contacting temperature greater than ambient, but not greater than the reflux temperature of said hydrocarbon stream; contacting said heated hydrocarbon stream at said contacting temperature and at a contacting pressure not greater than about 698 kPa with a sorbent including a metal-exchanged zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least about 1.5;
1; andadsorbing said sulfur constituent contained in said hydrocarbon stream onto said sorbent to reduce the sulfur content of said hydrocarbon stream. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity comprising:
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providing a hydrocarbon stream containing a sulfur constituent; heating said hydrocarbon stream to a contacting temperature greater than ambient, but not greater than the reflux temperature of said hydrocarbon stream; contacting said heated hydrocarbon stream at said contacting temperature and at a contacting pressure not greater than about 698 kPa with a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst including a rare earth metal-exchanged zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio of at least about 1.5;
1; andadsorbing said sulfur constituent contained in said hydrocarbon stream onto said fluid catalytic cracking catalyst acting as a sorbent to reduce the sulfur content of said hydrocarbon stream. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity comprising:
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providing a hydrocarbon stream containing a sulfur constituent selected from a group consisting of mercaptans, disulfides, sulfides, thiophene and mixtures thereof; heating said hydrocarbon stream to a contacting temperature greater than ambient, but not greater than the reflux temperature of said hydrocarbon stream; contacting said heated hydrocarbon stream with a metal-exchanged zeolite selected from a group consisting of Y zeolites, ultra-stable Y zeolites, and mixtures thereof at said contacting temperature and at a contacting pressure not greater than about 698 kPa, wherein said metal-exchanged zeolite has an exchanged metal cation selected from a group consisting of rare earth metal cations, palladium cations, platinum cations and mixtures thereof; and adsorbing said sulfur constituent contained in said hydrocarbon stream onto said metal-exchanged zeolite to reduce the sulfur content of said hydrocarbon stream.
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Specification