System and method for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization
AssigneeAlternative Petroleum Technologies, Inc.
InventorJack Lawrence Waldron
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon having the steps of: adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a vessel, the hydrocarbon having a sulfur content; adding a catalyst and an oxidizer to create a mixture; oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon; separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the mixture; and removing at least some of the oxidized sulfur from the liquid hydrocarbon. Such methods can be carried out by batch or continuously. Systems for undertaking such methods are likewise disclosed.
Claims20
A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon comprising the steps of:
- (a) adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a first vessel, the hydrocarbon having a first sulfur content;
- (b) adding a first catalyst and a first oxidizer to the first vessel create a first mixture;
- (c) oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the first vessel;
- (d) separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the first mixture;
- (e) directing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur into a second vessel, the hydrocarbon having a second sulfur content that is lower than the first sulfur content;
- (f) adding a second catalyst and a second oxidizer to the second vessel to create a second mixture;
- (g) oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form additional oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the second vessel;
- (h) separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the second mixture;
- and
- (i) removing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the second vessel, the liquid hydrocarbon having a third sulfur content which is lower than the second sulfur content,
- wherein the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur travels sequentially from the first vessel to the second vessel, while at least a portion of the catalyst travels in an opposite direction.
A method of continuously desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon comprising the steps of:
- (a) continuously adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a first vessel, the hydrocarbon having an initial sulfur content;
- (b) continuously adding a first catalyst and a first oxidizer to the first vessel create a first mixture;
- (c) continuously oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the first vessel;
- (d) continuously separating a portion the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the first mixture, the hydrocarbon having an initial lowered sulfur content that is lower than the initial sulfur content;
- (e) continuously directing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur into at least one subsequent vessel, the hydrocarbon having a subsequent sulfur content;
- (f) continuously adding a subsequent catalyst and a subsequent oxidizer to the at least one subsequent vessel to create a subsequent mixture;
- (g) continuously oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form additional oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the at least one subsequent vessel;
- (h) continuously separating a portion the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the subsequent mixture;
- and
- (i) continuously removing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the at least one subsequent vessel, the liquid hydrocarbon having a completed subsequent sulfur content which is lower than the subsequent sulfur content,
- wherein the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur travels sequentially from the first vessel to the at least one subsequent vessel, while at least a portion of the catalyst travels in an opposite direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.