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Process for removing low amounts of organic sulfur from hydrocarbon fuels

  • US 6,406,616 B1
  • Filed: 09/12/2001
  • Issued: 06/18/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process for removing sulfur compounds from a gasoline fuel without substantially reducing the octane rating of the hydrocarbon fuels, comprising the steps of:

  • contacting the sulfur containing fuel with an aqueous oxidizing solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, and formic acid in a mole ratio of at least about 11;

    1 formic acid to hydrogen peroxide and having less than about 25 wt % water, in an amount such that the hydrogen peroxide present is greater than about two times the stoichiometric amount required to convert the sulfur compounds present to corresponding sulfones, at a temperature of from about 50°

    C. to about 130°

    C. to form a hydrocarbon fuel phase from which sulfur has been removed and an aqueous phase containing oxidized sulfur extracted from the hydrocarbon fuel phase;

    separating the aqueous phase from the hydrocarbon fuel phase; and

    recovering the hydrocarbon phase containing the fuel having reduced sulfur content substantially without reducing the octane rating of the fuel.

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