Methods for upgrading of contaminated hydrocarbon streams
AssigneeAuterra, Inc.
InventorsJonathan P. Rankin, Jennifer L. Vreeland, Kyle E. Litz, Tracey M. Jordan, Mark N. Rossetti, Eric H. Burnett
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Abstract
A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants is disclosed. The method includes contacting the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with an oxidant and an immiscible acid to oxidize the heteroatoms, contacting the oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with caustic and a selectivity promoter, and removing the heteroatom contaminants from the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed. The oxidant may be used in the presence of a catalyst.
Claims18
A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants, the method comprising:
- contacting the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with an oxidant and an immiscible acid;
- contacting the oxidized heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter;
- removing the heteroatom contaminants from the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed;
- wherein contacting with at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter is at a temperature in the range from about 150° C. to about 350° C. and at a pressure in the range of from about 0 psig to about 2000 psig;
- and
- wherein the selectivity promoter is an organic alcohol, ROH, wherein R is a C1-C18 alkyl-, aryl-, alkenyl-, substituted alkyl-, or substituted aryl-group.
A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants, the method comprising:
- contacting the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with at least one oxidant to oxidize at least a portion of the heteroatom contaminants to form a first intermediate stream;
- contacting the first intermediate stream with at least one oxidant and at least one immiscible acid to oxide at least a portion of any remaining heteroatom contaminants to form a second intermediate stream;
- contacting the second intermediate stream with at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter to form a third intermediate stream;
- separating a substantially heteroatom-free hydrocarbon product from the third intermediate stream;
- recovering the at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter from the third intermediate stream;
- and recycling the recovered at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter,
- wherein contacting with at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter is at a temperature in the range from about 150° C. to about 350° C. and at a pressure in the range of from about 0 psig to about 2000 psig;
- and
- wherein the selectivity promoter is an organic alcohol, ROH, wherein R is a C1-C18 alkyl-, aryl-, alkenyl-, substituted alkyl-, or substituted aryl-group.
A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants, the method comprising oxidizing dibenzothiophenes in the heteroatom-containing feed to sulfones, contacting the sulfones under oxidizing biphasic conditions with an immiscible acid and an oxidant to remove at least a portion of the heteroatom contaminants, then reacting the sulfones with caustic and a selectivity promoter, and separating a substantially heteroatom-free hydrocarbon product;
- wherein contacting with at least one caustic and at least one selectivity promoter is at a temperature in the range from about 150° C. to about 350° C. and at a pressure in the range of from about 0 psig to about 2000 psig;
- and
- wherein the selectivity promoter is an organic alcohol, ROH, wherein R is a C1-C18 alkyl-, aryl-, alkenyl-, substituted alkyl-, or substituted aryl-group.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.