Process for oxidative desulfurization with integrated sulfone decomposition

摘要

The process provided herein is concerned with disposal of oxidized sulfur compounds formed by oxidative desulfurization. The process uses solid base catalyst in the presence of a caustic solution or solid base catalyst pretreated with a base and eliminates the need to separate the sulfones from the hydrocarbon streams and recover the hydrocarbons.

主权项

1. A process for reducing the concentration of oxidized sulfur compounds from a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds, the process comprising:
a. contacting the mixture of hydrocarbons and oxidized sulfur compounds with an effective amount of solid base catalyst composition having a metal component, pretreated with a caustic solution of sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, wherein the caustic solution promotes conversion of the metal component of the solid base catalyst composition into a more active species,
the solid base catalyst composition selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc aluminates, layered double hydroxides, magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxide, and combinations comprising one or more of zinc oxide, zinc aluminates, layered double hydroxides, and magnesium/aluminum layered double hydroxide,the contacting occurring under conditions effective to promote catalytic decomposition of a portion of the oxidized sulfur compounds into SOx compounds; b. removing SOx from the hydrocarbon mixture; and c. recovering a hydrocarbon product having a reduced concentration of oxidized sulfur compounds.