US2003092169A1PendingUtilityA1

Biodesulfurization of hydrocarbons

38
Priority: Nov 14, 2001Filed: Nov 14, 2001Published: May 15, 2003
Est. expiryNov 14, 2021(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark A. Plummer
C10G 45/04
38
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A process for converting organic sulfur compounds contained in liquid hydrocarbons to elemental sulfur. The liquid hydrocarbons are solubilized in an organic solvent and reacted in the presence of a biocatalyst and hydrogen. The organic solvent is a nucleophilic solvent having a pK a greater than about 2, an electrophilic solvent having a pK a more negative than about −2, or mixtures thereof. The biocatalyst may be supported on a Lewis acid. Elemental sulfur is removed from the liquid hydrocarbons. Liquid hydrocarbons treated in accordance with this process have significantly reduced concentrations of organic sulfur compounds and thus reduced viscosity.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
I claim:  
     
         1 . A process for converting organic sulfur compounds contained in liquid hydrocarbons comprising: 
 reacting organic sulfur compounds contained in liquid hydrocarbons in the presence of a biocatalyst, hydrogen and an organic solvent selected from the group consisting of a nucleophilic solvent having a pK a  greater than about 2, an electrophilic solvent having a pK a  more negative than about −2, or mixtures thereof thereby converting said organic sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said nucleophilic solvent has a pK a  greater than about 6.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said nucleophilic solvent has a pK a  greater than about 10.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said sulfur compounds are sulfides and said organic solvent is N-butylamine.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said step of reacting is performed at a temperature of about 165° F. or less.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said electrophilic solvent has a pK a  more negative than about −6.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said electrophilic solvent has a pKa more negative than about −10.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said sulfur compounds are thiopenes and said organic solvent is methylethylketone.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said biocatalyst is dispersed on a support.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said support exhibits Lewis acidity.  
     
     
         11 . A process for removing organic sulfur compounds from liquid hydrocarbons comprising: 
 a) contacting liquid hydrocarbons containing organic sulfur compounds with an organic solvent, said solvent solubilizing said liquid hydrocarbons and being selected from the group consisting of a nucleophilic solvent having a pK a  greater than about 2, an electrophilic solvent having a pK a  more negative than about −2, or mixtures thereof;    b) reacting said liquid hydrocarbons that are solubilized in said organic solvent in the presence of a biocatalyst and hydrogen thereby converting said organic sulfur compounds to elemental sulfur.    
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  further comprising: 
 c) contacting said organic solvent and said liquid hydrocarbons after the step of reacting with water thereby solubilizing said elemental sulfur and said organic solvent into said water.  
 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein said organic solvent and said liquid hydrocarbons are contacted with between about 10 to about 20 moles of said water per mole of said organic solvent.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 d) removing said organic solvent from said water and said elemental sulfur; and  
 e) recycling said organic solvent to step a).  
 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14  further comprising: 
 f) separating said sulfur from said water; and  
 g) recycling said water from which said sulfur is separated to step c).  
 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said nucleophilic solvent has a pK a  greater than about 6.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said nucleophilic solvent has a pK a  greater than about 10.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said sulfur compounds are sulfides and said organic solvent is N-butylamine.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said step of reacting is performed at a temperature of about 165° F. or less.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said electrophilic solvent has a pK a  more negative than about −6.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said electrophilic solvent has a pK a  more negative than about −10.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said sulfur compounds are thiopenes and said organic solvent is methylethylketone.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said biocatalyst is dispersed on a support.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 23  wherein said support is a Lewis acid.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said liquid hydrocarbons are crude oils.

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