摘要 |
A process for converting organic sulfur compounds contained in liquid hydrocarbons to elemental sulfur. The liquid hydrocarbons are solubilized in an organic solvent and reacted in the presence of a biocatalyst and hydrogen. The organic solvent is a nucleophilic solvent having a pKa greater than about 2, an electrophilic solvent having a pKa more negative than about -2, or mixtures thereof. The biocatalyst may be supported on a Lewis acid. Elemental sulfur is removed from the liquid hydrocarbons. Liquid hydrocarbons treated in accordance with this process have significantly reduced concentrations of organic sulfur compounds and thus reduced viscosity.
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