Electrodesulfurization of heavy oils

A process for removing sulfur from heavy oil feedstreams containing sulfur-containing molecules, which process comprises:

• a) heating and pressurizing said heavy oil feedstream to a temperature of about 400° F. (204° C.) to about 800° F. (426° C.) and a pressure of about 200 psig to about 700 psig;
• b) passing said heated and pressurized heavy oil feedstream and an effective amount of hydrogen to an electrochemical cell and subjecting the heavy oil feedstream to a voltage in the range of about 4V to about 500V and a current density of about 10 mA/cm2 to about 1000 mA/cm2, thereby reducing at least a portion of the sulfur-containing molecules to hydrogen sulfide and resulting in a product stream comprised sulfur-lean heavy oil product stream and hydrogen sulfide;
• c) separating said hydrogen sulfide from said sulfur-lean heavy oil product stream in a gas/liquid separation zone;
• and
• d) recovering the sulfur-lean heavy oil product stream.