Process for removal of mercaptans from hydrocarbon streams

摘要

A process for treating a light cracked naphtha to be used as an etherification feed stock is disclosed in which mercaptans, H2S and diolefins are removed simultaneously in a distillation column reactor using a reduced nickel catalyst. The mercaptans and H2S are reacted with the diolefins to form sulfides which are higher boiling than that portion of the naphtha which is used as feed to the etherification unit. The higher boiling sulfides are removed as bottoms along with any C6 and heavier materials. Any diolefins not converted to sulfides are selectively hydrogenated to mono-olefins for use in the etherification process.