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AssigneeUop LLC
InventorsBarret A. Ferm, Blaise J. Arena, Jennifer S. Holmgern
Estimating the term…
A catalyst and a process for using the catalyst have been developed. The catalyst is a metal chelate dispersed on a basic support which is a combination of a solid base and a secondary component. The solid base can be a solid solution of metal oxides and/or a layered double hydroxide (LDH) and the secondary component can be calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. The process involves contacting a sour hydrocarbon fraction which contains mercaptans with the catalyst in the presence of an oxidizing agent and a polar compound. Examples of these polar compounds are water and alcohols, with methanol being especially preferred. The process is unique in that the solid solution or LDH are solid bases which eliminates the need for a liquid base. Optionally, an onium compound may be used as a catalyst promoter.
A process for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon fraction containing mercaptans comprising contacting the hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of an oxidizing agent with a catalyst and an effective amount of a polar compound, the catalyst comprising a metal chelate dispersed on a support comprising a solid base and a secondary component, the solid base selected from the group consisting of a solid solution of metal oxides, a layered double hydroxide and mixtures thereof, the solid solution having the formula xMO.multidot.yM'.sub.2 O.sub.3 where M is at least one metal having a +2 oxidation state and is selected from the group consisting of magnesium, nickel, zinc, copper, iron, cobalt and mixtures thereof and M' is at least one metal having a +3 oxidation state and is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, gallium, scandium, iron, lanthanum, cerium, yttrium, boron and mixtures thereof and the ratio of x:y is greater than 1 to about 15, the layered double hydroxide represented by the formula
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.