Desulfurization process

• US 7,314,545 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2004
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology LP (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Original Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology LP (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Inventors: Karas, Lawrence J., Grey, Roger A., Lynch, Michael W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer; Cephia D.
• Application Number:
  US10/754,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 585/14, 208/208.R, 208/428, 208/240, 208/196
• US Class Current: 208/208.00R
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 53/14 including at least one oxidation step

Abstract

This invention is a method of purifying fuels containing organosulfur impurities. The fuel is oxidized with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form a sulfone product, followed by extraction of the sulfone product by solid-liquid or liquid-liquid extraction. The fuel is then contacted with a decomposition catalyst to remove the residual organic hydroperoxide from the fuel.

Claims

1. A process comprising:

(a) contacting a fuel containing organosulfur impurities with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form an oxidized fuel, wherein a substantial portion of the organosulfur impurities are converted into sulfones and a residual amount of organic hydroperoxide remains in the oxidized fuel;

(b) extracting the sulfones from the oxidized fuel to form a fuel having a reduced amount of sulfones and a residual amount of organic hydroperoxide; and

(c) contacting the fuel from step (b) with a Group 4 to 11 transition metal-containing decomposition catalyst at a temperature in the range of 20 to 150°

C.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the organic hydroperoxide is tertiary butyl hydroperoxide.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the oxidation catalyst is a titanium-containing silicon oxide catalyst.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfones are extracted by solid-liquid extraction using at least one sulfone adsorbent.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the sulfones are extracted by liquid-liquid extraction using at least one polar solvent selected from the group consisting of a C₁-C₄ alcohol, a C₃-C₈ ketone, water, and mixtures thereof.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the polar solvent is a mixture of methanol and water.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the Group 4 to 11 transition metal-containing decomposition catalyst comprises a Group 4 to 11 transition metal and a support.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the Group 4 to 11 transition metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, manganese, vanadium, iron, ruthenium, cobalt, and mixtures thereof.

9. The process of claim 7 wherein the Group 4 to 11 transition metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, iron, and mixtures thereof.

10. The process of claim 7 wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, silica-aluminas, and carbon.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein the decomposition catalyst comprises chromium, silica, and optionally titanium.