Process for the desulfurization of carbonaceous fuels with aqueous caustic and oxygen

A process for reducing the sulfur content of carbonaceous fuel comprising the following steps:

• a. introducing carbonaceous fuel containing sulfur into an aqueous solution of caustic;
• b. heating said aqueous solution of caustic containing said carbonaceous fuel;
• c. introducing oxygen into said aqueous solution of caustic, maintained at an elevated temperature, thereby reducing the sulfur content of said carbonaceous fuel;
• and
• d. removing said carbonaceous fuel from said aqueous solution of caustic after treament with said oxygen in said aqueous solution of caustic.

A process for reducing the sulfur content of carbonaceous fuel comprising the following steps:

• a. introducing particulate carbonaceous fuel containing sulfur into an aqueous solution of caustic, said caustic comprising an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal compound of a hydroxide, an oxide, a carbonate, or mixtures thereof;
• b. heating said aqueous solution of caustic containing said particulate carbonaceous fuel to a temperature of about 200.degree. to about 1600.degree. F;
• c. introducing into said solution which is maintained at a temperature of about 200.degree. to about 1600.degree. F, at least about 2 grams of oxygen for every one percent by weight of sulfur initially present in said particulate carbonaceous fuel for a period of time of about 1 minute to about 300 minutes, thereby reducing the sulfur content of said particulate carbonaceous fuel;
• and
• d. removing said particulate carbonaceous fuel from said aqueous solution of caustic after said treatment with said oxygen in said aqueous solution of caustic.