Process for producing hydroperoxides

A process for the production of organic hydroperoxides comprising:

• (a) reacting, at a temperature from 110° C. (230° F.) to 170° C. (338° F.), a diesel boiling range hydrocarbon feedstock comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and having a boiling range from 140° C. (284° F.) to 380° C. (716° F.), oxygen and a recycle stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and organic hydroperoxides (OHP), in a steady state OHP concentration range from 50 to 5000 wppm oxygen as OHP, to produce a non-distilled product stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and an increased concentration of organic hydroperoxides;
• (b) recycling at least a portion of the product stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and the increased concentration of organic hydroperoxides, wherein the at least a portion of the product stream is recycled to step (a) so that a steady state OHP concentration is maintained;
• (c) recovering a stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and organic hydroperoxides;
• and
• (d) in an organic sulfur oxidation zone, reacting the stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and organic hydroperoxides in the presence of an organic sulfur oxidation catalyst to produce a stream comprising hydrocarbons in the C9 to C23 range and sulfone compounds.