Process for oxygenation of components for refinery blending of transportation fuels

A process for the production of refinery transportation fuel or blending components for refinery transportation fuel, which process comprises:

• partitioning by distillation an organic feedstock comprising a mixture of organic compounds derived from natural petroleum, the mixture having a gravity ranging from about 10° API to about 75° API to provide at least one low-boiling organic part consisting of a sulfur-lean, mono-aromatic-rich fraction, and a high-boiling organic part consisting of a sulfur-rich, mono-aromatic-lean fraction;
• contacting a gaseous source of dioxygen with at least a portion of the low-boiling organic part in a liquid reaction medium containing a heterogeneous oxygenation catalyst system which exhibits a capability to enhance the incorporation of oxygen into a mixture of liquid organic compounds, while maintaining the reaction medium substantially free of halogen and/or halogen-containing compounds, to form a liquid mixture comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds, water of reaction, and acidic co-products;
• and, while maintaining the liquid reaction medium substantially free of halogen and/or halogen-containing compounds, to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds, water of reaction, and acidic co-products;
• separating from the mixture at least a first organic liquid of low density comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds and acidic co-products and at least portions of the catalyst metal, water of reaction and acidic co-products;
• and
• contacting all or a portion of the separated organic liquid with a neutralizing agent thereby recovering a low-boiling oxygenated product having a low content of acidic co-products.

A process for the production of refinery transportation fuel or blending components for refinery transportation fuel, which process comprises:

• partitioning by distillation an organic feedstock comprising a mixture of organic compounds derived from natural petroleum, the mixture consisting essentially of material boiling between about 75° C. and about 425° C. to provide at least one low-boiling organic part consisting of a sulfur-lean, mono-aromatic-rich fraction, and a high-boiling organic part consisting of a sulfur-rich, mono-aromatic-lean fraction;
• contacting a gaseous source of dioxygen with at least a portion of the low-boiling organic part in a liquid reaction medium containing a heterogeneous oxygenation catalyst system which exhibits a capability to enhance the incorporation of oxygen into a mixture of liquid organic compounds, while maintaining the reaction medium substantially free of halogen and/or halogen-containing compounds, to form a liquid mixture comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds, water of reaction, and acidic co-products;
• and, while maintaining the liquid reaction medium substantially free of halogen and/or halogen-containing compounds, to form a mixture comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds, water of reaction, and acidic co-products;
• separating from the mixture at least a first organic liquid of low density comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds and acidic co-products and at least portions of the catalyst metal, water of reaction and acidic co-products;
• and
• contacting all or a portion of the separated organic liquid with a neutralizing agent and recovering a low-boiling oxygenated product having a low content of acidic co-products;
• and
• contacting the high-boiling organic part with an immiscible phase comprising at least one organic peracid or precursors of organic peracid in a liquid reaction mixture maintained substantially free of catalytic active metals and/or active metal-containing compounds and under conditions suitable for oxidation of one or more of the sulfur-containing and/or nitrogen-containing organic compounds;
• separating at least a portion of the immiscible peracid-containing phase from the oxidized phase of the reaction mixture;
• and
• contacting the oxidized phase of the reaction mixture with a solid sorbent, an ion exchange resin, and/or a suitable immiscible liquid containing a solvent or a soluble basic chemical compound, to obtain a high-boiling product containing less sulfur and/or less nitrogen than the high-boiling fraction.