Process for removing sulphur compounds from hydrocarbons

摘要

Processes are disclosed for reducing the sulphur content of a hydrocarbon material containing sulphur compounds.

主权项

1. A process for reducing the sulphur content of a hydrocarbon material containing sulphur compounds, the process comprising:
a) contacting the hydrocarbon material with one or more primary oxidants to oxidize the sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to provide a primary oxidised hydrocarbon material, wherein the primary oxidant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of N-chloroimide, hypobromous acid, hypochlorous acid, electrolysed oxidizing water, and catalyzed and co-catalyzed hydrogen peroxide; b) contacting the primary oxidised hydrocarbon material with a secondary oxidant to oxidizes sulphur compounds not oxidised by the primary oxidant to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to provide a secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material, wherein the secondary oxidant is at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl radicals, liquid ferrate (iron VI), chlorine dioxide, and hypofluorous acid/polar solvent; c) contacting the primary and/or secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material with an aqueous extractant to allow at least a portion of the sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to be extracted into the aqueous extractant to give a sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream and a low sulphur hydrocarbon stream; and d) contacting the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream with a tertiary oxidant to give a sulphite stream and a low sulphur aromatic hydrocarbon steam, wherein the tertiary oxidant oxidises the sulphone and/or sulphoxide compounds to sulphite compounds.