IMPROVED CATALYST AND PROCESS FOR SWEETENING A SOUR HYDROCARBON STREAM

摘要

A process for treating a sour hydrocarbon stream is improved by the use of a dipolar compound which has a positively charged atom and an electronegative group in the same structure. A particularly preferred dipolar compound is ephedrine. The dipolar compounds may be used in conjunction with a metal chelate and a basic solution either in a liquid-liquid process or a fixed bed process with substantially increased performance for oxidizing mercaptans which are found in the sour hydrocarbon stream.