Integrated deasphalting and oxidative removal of heteroatom hydrocarbon compounds from liquid hydrocarbon feedstocks

A process for deasphalting and reducing the content of heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules in a liquid hydrocarbon feedstock, the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock having an asphaltic content and heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules, the process comprising:

• introducing the liquid hydrocarbon feedstock, solvent, an oxidant, and an oxidation catalyst as an intimate mixture into a solvent deashphalting unit that includes at least one settler;
• maintaining the mixture in the settler for a residence time that is sufficient for substantial completion of oxidative reaction between the oxidizing agent and the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules, and thereafter for phase separation of the reaction mixture into a reduced asphalt content phase and an asphalt phase, wherein the oxidized heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules are in the asphalt phase;
• discharging the asphalt phase containing oxidized heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules;
• and
• recovering the reduced asphalt content phase having a reduced content of heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon molecules.