Catalyst for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon fraction containing metal oxide solid solution and magnesium oxide

摘要

A catalyst and a process for using the catalyst have been developed. The catalyst is a metal chelate dispersed on a basic support which is a combination of a solid base and a secondary component. The solid base can be a solid solution of metal oxides and/or a layered double hydroxide (LDH) and the secondary component can be calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. 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.