Process for deep desulfurization of cracked gasoline with minimum octane loss

A process for deep desulfurization of cracked gasoline feed stock to reduce sulfur content to <10 ppm with minimum octane loss and reduced hydrogen consumption comprising of the following steps:

• (a) reduction of diolefins content below 0.10% by treating with low activity NiMo or CoMo catalyst, at a pressure in the range 5 to 10 bar, temperature in the range of 100 to 200° C., hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio from 5 to 25 depending on diolefin content in the feed;
• (b) splitting of full range gasoline by distillation into the following three different cuts, including light cut in the range of IBP-70° C., intermediate cut in the range of 70 to 90° C. and heavy cut in the range of 90 to 210° C. which is thereafter blended in gasoline;
• (c) treatment of the light and/or intermediate cuts with 2-10% caustic solution in CFC to reduce mercaptan sulfur which is thereafter blended in gasoline;
• (d) treatment of the heavy cut and, optionally, the intermediate cut by passing over a reactive adsorbent bed which is thereafter blended in gasoline;
• (e) reduction of benzene content of gasoline by routing the intermediate cut into isomerization or reformer unit;
• wherein the treatment of step (d) is carried out at a pressure in the range 5 to 20 bar, temperature in the range of 250 to 300° C., hydrogen to hydrocarbon ratio from 20 to 200 depending on sulfur and olefin content in the feed, to reduce sulfur preferably below 15 ppm, and blended in gasoline pool;
• wherein the overall octane loss is less than about 0.5 units and overall hydrogen consumption is less than about 0.5 wt % of total feed.