Regenerable sorbents for removal of sulfur from hydrocarbons and processes for their preparation and use
AssigneeResearch Triangle Institute
InventorsBrian S. Turk, Santosh K. Gangwal, Raghubir P. Gupta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sorbent for use in removing sulfur contaminants from hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided, wherein the sorbent contains zinc aluminate in an amount of at least 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4); free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3); and iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3); wherein each of the free alumina and iron oxide are present in non-crystalline form as determined by X-ray diffraction analysis, and a method for producing the sorbent and method for using the sorbent to reduce sulfur contaminants in hydrocarbon feedstocks.
Claims22
A method of producing a sorbent, comprising:
- heating under oxidizing conditions precipitated precursors of zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and iron oxide, wherein said precipitated precursors of zinc oxide, iron oxide, and aluminum oxide are Zn(NO3)2, Fe(NO3)3.9H2O, and Al(NO3)3, respectively, wherein the precursor for aluminum oxide is present in a molar excess sufficient to react with substantially all of the precursor of zinc oxide and to produce free alumina, and wherein said precipitated precursors of zinc oxide and iron oxide are present in amounts sufficient that said sorbent has a composition comprising;
- a) zinc aluminate in an amount of at least about 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4);
- b) free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3);
- and
- c) iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3).
A method of producing a sorbent, comprising:
- heating under oxidizing conditions precipitated precursors of zinc oxide, aluminum oxide and iron oxide, wherein the precursor for aluminum oxide is present in a molar excess sufficient to react with substantially all of the precursor of zinc oxide and to produce free alumina, and wherein said precipitated precursors of zinc oxide and iron oxide are present in amounts sufficient that said sorbent has a composition comprising;
- a) zinc aluminate in an amount of at least about 40 wt % (calculated as ZnAl2O4);
- b) free alumina in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % (calculated as Al2O3);
- and
- c) iron oxide in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 30 wt % (calculated as Fe2O3);
- wherein said sorbent is in a pelletized form obtained by extrusion of a wet paste formed from said precipitated precursors, wherein said wet paste is obtained by wetting a dried filter cake of said precipitated precursors with sufficient nitric acid to improve flow properties of the paste.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.