Sulfur extraction from hydrocarbons using carbonate-based solvents

A treated stream comprising:

• hydrocarbons;
• at least one non-acidic sulfur compound;
• and
• a carbonate solvent comprising:
• at least one organic carbonate, where the organic carbonate is propylene carbonate;
• at least one soluble metal salt, where the metal in the soluble metal salt is tin;
• and
• at least one oxazolidine;
• where the at least one organic carbonate is present in an amount effective to solvate at least a portion of the non-acidic sulfur compound from the treated stream into the carbonate solvent without reacting with the non-acidic sulfur compound.

A method for selectively extracting non-acidic sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream, the method comprising:

• contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a carbonate solvent comprising at least one organic carbonate and at least one soluble metal salt selected from the group consisting of sulfates, nitrates, acetates, and acetylacetonates;
• separating the hydrocarbon stream from the carbonate solvent, where the carbonate solvent contains at least a portion of the non-acidic sulfur compounds from the hydrocarbon stream;
• separating the at least a portion of the non-acidic sulfur compounds from the carbonate solvent through filtration of the carbonate solvent to obtain a purified carbonate solvent;
• and
• recycling the purified carbonate solvent to treat a subsequent volume of hydrocarbon stream having non-acidic sulfur compounds.