# US 2022/0033719 A1 · System and method for liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization

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- Number: US 2022/0033719 A1
- Document ID: US20220033719A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/398,579
- Filed: 2021-08-10
- Published: 2022-02-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-14
- Assignees: Alternative Petroleum Technologies Holdings Corp.
- Applicants: Alternative Petroleum Technologies Holdings Corp.
- Inventors: Jack Lawrence Waldron
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220033719A1

## CPC

- C10G 53/14: including at least one oxidation step
- C10G 17/00: Refining of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen, with acids, acid-forming compounds or acid-containing liquids, e.g. acid sludge
- C10G 27/12: with oxygen-generating compounds, e.g. per-compounds, chromic acid, chromates (plumbites or plumbates C10G19/06)
- C10G 31/06: by heating, cooling, or pressure treatment
- C10G 2300/202: Heteroatoms content, i.e. S, N, O, P
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon having the steps of: adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a vessel, the hydrocarbon having a sulfur content; adding a catalyst and an oxidizer to create a mixture; oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon; separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the mixture; and removing at least some of the oxidized sulfur from the liquid hydrocarbon. Such methods can be carried out by batch or continuously. Systems for undertaking such methods are likewise disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon comprising the steps of:
(a) adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a first vessel, the hydrocarbon having a first sulfur content;
(b) adding a first catalyst and a first oxidizer to the first vessel create a first mixture;
(c) oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the first vessel;
(d) separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the first mixture;
(e) directing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur into a second vessel, the hydrocarbon having a second sulfur content that is lower than the first sulfur content;
(f) adding a second catalyst and a second oxidizer to the second vessel to create a second mixture;
(g) oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form additional oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the second vessel;
(h) separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the second mixture; and
(i) removing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the second vessel, the liquid hydrocarbon having a third sulfur content which is lower than the second sulfur content.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content within at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel further comprises at least one of the steps of:
(a) agitating the first mixture within the first vessel;
(b) heating the first mixture within the first vessel;
(c) cooling the first mixture within the first vessel; and
(d) recirculating the first mixture within the first vessel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the step of agitating the first mixture further comprises the step of directing the first mixture through a shear device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
(a) removing the second catalyst and the second oxidizer from the second mixture;
(b) adding the removed second catalyst and second oxidizer into the first vessel as the first catalyst and the first oxidizer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:
(a) separating the oxidized sulfur from the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 wherein the step of separating further comprises the step of:
(a) passing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur through one of a solid absorbent and a liquid stripping section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein the step of separating further comprises the step of:
(a) filtering the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur prior to the step of passing.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the first mixture removes more than 70% of the liquid hydrocarbon within the first mixture, and more preferably more than 90% of the liquid hydrocarbon within the first mixture, and the step of separating the liquid hydrocarbon and the oxidized sulfur from within the second mixture removes more than 70% of the liquid hydrocarbon within the second mixture, and more preferably more than 90% of the liquid hydrocarbon within the second mixture.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the first catalyst and the second catalyst are reused, with only a portion thereof being replaced.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
(j) directing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur into a third vessel;
(k) adding a third catalyst and a third oxidizer to the third vessel to create a third mixture;
(l) oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form additional oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon within the third vessel; and
(m) separating the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the third mixture; and
(n) removing the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidized sulfur from within the third vessel, the liquid hydrocarbon having a fourth sulfur content which is lower than the third sulfur content.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the steps (j) through (n) are repeated until a final desired sulfur content is reached.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11 wherein the steps (j) through (n) are repeated at least once.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the method is operated continuously, so as to continuously desulfurize liquid hydrocarbon.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the liquid hydrocarbon and oxidizer travels sequentially from the first vessel to the second vessel, while at least a portion of the catalyst travels in an opposite direction within the system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first catalyst, the second catalyst or the third catalyst comprise a strong catalyst.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15 wherein the strong catalyst is selected from the group consisting of: acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid, hydrochloric acids.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first oxidizer, the second oxidizer or the third oxidizer comprise hydrogen peroxide or co compounds that can produce hydrogen peroxide in aqueous environments, super oxides or organic peroxides.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first catalyst, the second catalyst or the third catalyst comprise (NH4)7-x HxPW11O39 where x=0-3.

### Claim 19 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first catalyst, second catalyst or the third catalyst comprises between 0.1 and 3 moles per mole of sulfur, and more preferably between 0.5 and 1 moles per mole sulfur.

### Claim 20 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10 wherein the first oxidizer, the second oxidizer or the third oxidizer comprises between 0.1 and 3 moles per mole of sulfur, and more preferably between 0.5 and 1 moles per mole sulfur.

### Claim at position 21

21-23. (canceled)