Method for the production of hydrocarbon fuels with ultra-low sulfur content

• US 6,673,236 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada As Represented By The Minister Or Natural Resources
• Original Assignee: Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada (Government of Canada)
• Inventors: Stanciulescu, Maria, Ikura, Michio
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Walter D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arnold, Jr., James
• Application Number:
  US09/940,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20030075483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 208/208.R, 208/213, 208/232, 208/231, 208/240, 208/249, 208/196, 208/189
• US Class Current: 208/208.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 27/12 with oxygen-generating compounds, e.g. per-compounds, chromic acid, chromates plumbites or plumbates C10G19/06
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 27/14 with ozone-containing gases
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 67/12 including oxidation as the refining step in the absence of hydrogen

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for producing hydrocarbon fuels with ultra-low levels of sulfur. The method involves catalytic oxidation of the sulfurous compounds within the hydrocarbon fuel, followed by extraction of the oxidized (and polarized) sulfurous compounds using a polar solvent. The present invention teaches the involvement of ethanol during catalytic oxidation. In this way, the oxidation catalyst has a dual-role in the oxidation process: firstly the catalyst directly oxidizes the sulfurous compounds, and secondly the oxidation catalyst converts of a small portion of the alcohol to the corresponding peroxy acid, which also helps to drive the oxidation process.

Claims

1. A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon fuel, comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a hydrocarbon fuel containing sulfurous compounds with an oxidant and ethanol in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a vanadium compound supported on cordierite to oxidize the sulfurous compounds and to oxidize a portion of the ethanol to form peracetic acid and utilizing the peracetic acid thus formed for further oxidation of the sulfurous compounds; and

(b) extracting the oxidized sulfurous compounds with a polar solvent.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein the oxidation catalyst comprises a vanadium/tungsten/titanium dioxide catalyst supported on cordierite.

3. A process according to claim 2, wherein the oxidant is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, ozone, or air.

4. A process according to claim 3, wherein the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide.

5. A process according to claim 2, wherein the hydrocarbon fuel comprises middle distillates.

6. A process according to claim 2, wherein the polar solvent is ethanol or methanol.

7. A process according to claim 2, wherein the ethanol and polar solvent are recycled.

8. A process according to claim 2, wherein prior to the oxidation step, the process further comprises the step of:

hydrogenating the sulfurous compounds in the hydrocarbon fuel, using hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst.