Method of removing sulfur from sulfur-containing hydrocarbon streams
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsAndrzej Malek, Ramesh Gupta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The use of one or more alkali metals, preferably sodium, to remove sulfur from hydrocarbon streams containing up to about 100 wppm sulfur. The hydrocarbon stream is introduced into a reactor where it is contacted with one or more alkali metals. The treated hydrocarbon stream is then subjected to a water wash thereby resulting in an aqueous phase fraction and a hydrocarbon phase fraction. The aqueous phase fraction, which is separated from the hydrocarbon phase fraction contains water-soluble sodium moieties.
Claims14
A process for removing substantially all sulfur from hydrocarbon streams containing up to about 100 wppm sulfur, which process comprises:
- a) conducting a hydrocarbon stream containing up to about 100 wppm sulfur into a reaction zone wherein it is contacted with an effective amount of one or more alkali metals, wherein said one or more alkali metals reacts with at least a portion of the sulfur in the hydrocarbon stream;
- b) conducting the treated hydrocarbon stream to a wash zone wherein it is contacted with an effective amount of water thereby resulting in an aqueous fraction containing water-soluble alkali metal components and a hydrocarbon fraction that is substantially free of sulfur;
- and
- c) separating said aqueous phase fraction from said hydrocarbon phase fraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.