Method of removing sulfur from crude oil and diesel using ionizing radiation

摘要

The present disclosure relates to a method and process to remove the remaining sulfur in four types of Arabian crude oils (Arabian Heavy) (AH) and straight-run diesel (SRD) by ionizing radiation. Radiation-induced desulfurization is not feasible for absorbed doses up to 200 kGy. Most of the organically bound sulfur and/or elemental sulfur and hydrogen sulfide still exist in the irradiated samples. Sulfur removal from crude oil and straight-run diesel was achieved by combining gamma-irradiation with other physical/chemical processes (i.e. liquid/liquid extraction and oxidation) which provided a considerable levels of total sulfur reduction in the investigated products (AH and SRD). The best removal processes for Arabian heavy crude oil and straight-run diesel resulted in reducing total sulfur content up to 36% (AH) and 78% (SRD) corresponding to (liquid process/200 kGy) and (liquid process/200 kGy) for AH and SRD, respectively.