Removal of basic nitrogen from hydrocarbon feedstocks - by rapid mixing with dil. aq. acid followed by demulsification

摘要

Denitrogenation of liq. hydrocarbons is carried out by (a) continuously introducing 1 pt.vol of the hydrocarbons and 0.075-3 (pref. 0.3-2) pts.vol. of a 0.01-5 (pref. 0.01-2.5) vol.% aq. soln. of an acid into a small-capacity mixer, (b) mixing the hydrocarbons and acid for =2 sec. to form an emulsion, (c) passing the emulsion to a decanter for phase sepn., and (d) recovering hydrocarbons contg. =2 ppm basic N. The acid is pref. H2SO4. Other suitable acids include HCl, HBr, HF, HI, H3PO4, H3BO3, FSO3H, CF3COOH, CCl3COOH, HCOOH and alkane- or alkylbenzene-sulphonic acids. The mixer can be a centrifugal pump or a static mixer. The process avoids polymer formation in hydrocarbon feedstocks contg. unsaturates, esp. straight-run kerosenes or white spirits or cracked gasolines.