Catalyst for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon fraction

摘要

A catalyst has been developed. The catalyst is a metal chelate dispersed on a basic support which is either a solid solution of metal oxides or a layered double hydroxide (LDH). The process involves contacting a sour hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans with the catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound. Examples of these polar compounds are water and alcohols, with methanol being especially preferred. The process is unique in that the solid solution or LDH are solid bases which eliminates the need for a liquid base. Optionally, an onium compound may be used as a catalyst promoter.