Process for removing sulphur compounds from hydrocarbons

A process for reducing the sulphur content of a hydrocarbon material containing sulphur compounds, the process comprising:

• a) contacting the hydrocarbon material with one or more primary oxidants to provide a primary oxidised hydrocarbon material such that the primary oxidant odxidizes the sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds, wherein the primary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of N-chloroimide, hypobromous acid, hypochlorous acid, electrolyzed oxidizing water and catalysed and co-catalysed hydrogen peroxide;
• c) contacting the primary oxidised hydrocarbon material with an extractant to allow at least a portion of the sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds to be extracted into the extractant to give a sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream and a low sulphur hydrocarbon stream;
• and
• d) separating the sulphoxide and/or sulphone stream from the low sulphur hydrocarbon stream,
• wherein the process further includes a step of contacting the primary oxidised hydrocarbon material with a secondary oxidant to provide a secondary oxidised hydrocarbon material, wherein the secondary oxidant is selected from one or more of the group consisting of hydroxyl radicals, liquid ferrate (iron VI), chlorine dioxide and hyperfluorous acid/polar liquid solvent, such that the secondary oxidant oxidizes sulphur compounds to sulphoxide and/or sulphone compounds.