Desulfurization of hydrocarbon streams

A process for desulfurizing a hydrocarbon stream including at least 100 ppmw sulfur in the form of organic sulfur compounds, and C.sub.4 - hydrocarbons comprising the steps of:

• a) pretreating said hydrocarbon stream to remove hydrogen sulfide;
• (b) contacting said hydrocarbon stream in the absence of added hydrogen with a fluidized bed of an acidic catalyst having a structure of ZSM-5, ZSM-11, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, MCM-22, MCM-36, MCM-49, zeolite Y, zeolite beta or mixtures thereof to convert said organic sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide;
• said catalyst contacting said hydrocarbon stream at a pressure of from 0.0 psig to about 400 psig, a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F. and a weight hourly space velocity of from about 0.1 hr..sup.-1 to about 10.0 hr..sup.-1 ;
• and
• (c) removing hydrogen sulfide produced in step (b) from said hydrocarbon stream.