Method for hydrodesulfurization of light oil fraction

A hydrodesulfurization catalyst for hydrodesulfurizing a light oil fraction, comprising:

• a carrier formed of a porous inorganic oxide;
• and
• tungsten and at least one of nickel and cobalt supported on the carrier,
• wherein the catalyst is used to perform hydrodesulfurization whereby partially desulfurized oil comprising a light oil fraction with a sulfur content of 2000 ppm or less is desulfurized into refined oil with a sulfur content of 50 ppm or less, and hydrogen sulfide contained in the partially desulfurized oil and hydrogen introduced to the hydrodesulfurization is 1.5 mol % or less with respect to the hydrogen.

A reaction apparatus for hydrodesulfurization of a light oil fraction, comprising:

• an upper-stage reactor packed with a catalyst comprising a carrier formed of a porous inorganic oxide, and molybdenum and at least one of nickel and cobalt supported on the carrier;
• a lower-stage reactor packed with a catalyst comprising a carrier formed of a porous inorganic oxide, and tungsten and at least one of nickel and cobalt supported on the carrier;
• a stripping apparatus which is disposed between the upper-stage reactor and the lower-stage reactor and reduces a content of hydrogen sulfide in partially desulfurized oil obtained from the upper-stage reactor to 1.5 mol % or less with respect to hydrogen fed to the lower-stage reactor;
• and
• a hydrogen feed apparatus which feeds hydrogen to both the upper-stage reactor and the lower-stage reactor.