Alkaline-Free Oxidative Demercaptanization of Hydrocarbons
Abstract
A problem of removal of volatile sulfur impurities (H2S, CH3SH, C2H5SH, etc.) from hydrocarbon raw materials or their conversion into non-toxic forms has always been challenging for industrial processes of oil production and refining. Currently, due to the depletion of low-sulfur oil resources and a significant increase in the oil consumption with (high) sulfur content, this problem has gained an increasing importance. Possible solutions include approaches for improving and modernizing existing technologies along with the development and implementation of novel procedures. A representative example of the relevant technology is non-extraction (alkaline) demercaptanization, which is based on the direct catalytic oxidation of H2S and RSH into non-toxic and stable di- and polysulfide forms directly in a hydrocarbon medium, thereby excluding the stage of their extraction with alkaline solutions, as well as the stage of disposal of large volumes of sulfur-alkaline waste. The paper presents results of laboratory studies aimed at evaluating activities of homogeneous catalysts based on copper complexes which have been applied for oxidation of H2S and RSH by atmospheric oxygen in oil and dark oil fractions media, as well as general results of pilot scale testing conducted on demercaptanization of gas condensate fuel oil derived from the Astrakhan gas processing plant and oil samples from Alibekmola field. Compared with conventional procedures, the proposed technology is characterized by the absence of toxic sulfur-alkaline effluents, which ensures safety, both at the stage of oil refining and during transportation and storage of oil and oil products.
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