Multicomponent sorption bed for the desulfurization of hydrocarbons

Abstract

A novel hydrocarbon feedstream catalyst bed for the desulfurization of a gas or a liquid hydrocarbon feedstream and a process comprising passing a hydrocarbon feedstream over the catalyst bed is described. The bed comprises at least two catalysts having different sulfur compound affinities and/or specificities thereby improving the overall amount of sulfur compound removal. The process reduces the sulfur content in a gas hydrocarbon feedstream from up to about 300 ppm to less than about 500 ppb, and in a liquid hydrocarbon feedstream from up to about 3% to less than about 500 ppb.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catalyst bed for the removal of contaminants from a hydrocarbon feedstream, said catalyst bed comprising: 
 (a) a selective adsorbent catalyst having an affinity for a predetermined class of chemical compounds; and    (b) a general adsorbent catalyst capable of adsorbing hydrocarbon feedstream contaminants without a high degree of specificity,    said selective adsorbent catalyst and said general adsorbent catalyst being in tandem to form said catalyst bed.    
     
     
         2 . The catalyst bed of  claim 1  wherein said selective adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of copper/zinc catalysts, zinc oxide catalysts, copper/zinc/molybdenum oxide catalysts, nickel aluminas, nickel silicas and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The catalyst bed of  claim 1  wherein said general adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, copper/manganese, silver on alumina, nickel silicates, nickel silica/magnesia/alumina, zeolites, molecular sieves, faujasites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The catalyst bed of  claim 1  wherein said general adsorbent catalyst is positioned near an inlet port of said catalyst bed.  
     
     
         5 . The catalyst bed of  claim 1  wherein said selective adsorbent catalyst is positioned near an inlet port of said catalyst bed.  
     
     
         6 . A catalyst bed for the removal of contaminants from a hydrocarbon feedstream, said catalyst bed comprising a mixture of a selective adsorbent catalyst having an affinity for a predetermined class of chemical compounds; and a general adsorbent catalyst capable of adsorbing hydrocarbon feedstream contaminants without a high degree of specificity.  
     
     
         7 . The catalyst bed of  claim 6  wherein said selective adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of copper/zinc catalysts, zinc oxide catalysts, copper/zinc/molybdenum oxide catalsyts, nickel aluminas, nickel silicas and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The catalyst bed of  claim 6  wherein said general adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, copper/manganese, silver on alumina, nickel silicates, nickel silica/magnesia/alumina, zeolites, molecular sieves, faujasites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         9 . A process for removing contaminants from a hydrocarbon feedstream, said process comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a catalyst bed, having an inlet port and an exit port, said catalyst bed comprising a selective adsorption catalyst and a general adsorption catalyst, and    (b) allowing said hydrocarbon feedstream to enter said catalyst bed through said inlet port and to exit said catalyst bed through said exit port, said feedstream residing in said catalyst bed for a predetermined period of time at a predetermined temperature and pressure.    
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said selective adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of copper/zinc catalysts, zinc oxide catalysts, copper/zinc/molybdenum oxide catalsyts, nickel aluminas, nickel silicas and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9  wherein said general adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, copper/manganese, silver on alumina, nickel silicates, nickel silica/magnesia/alumina, zeolites, molecular sieves, faujasites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A catalyst bed for the removal of sulfur-containing components from a hydrocarbon feedstream, said catalyst bed comprising: 
 (a) a selective adsorbent catalyst having an affinity for at least one sulfur-containing compounds; and    (b) a general adsorbent catalyst capable of adsorbing sulfur-containing compounds in said hydrocarbon feedstream without a high degree of specificity,    said selective adsorbent catalyst and said general adsorbent catalyst being in tandem to form said catalyst bed.    
     
     
         13 . The catalyst bed of  claim 12  wherein said selective adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of copper/zinc catalysts, zinc oxide catalysts, copper/zinc/molybdenum oxide catalysts, nickel aluminas, nickel silicas and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         14 . The catalyst bed of  claim 12  wherein said general adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, copper/manganese, silver on alumina, nickel silicates, nickel silica/magnesia/alumina, zeolites, molecular sieves, faujasites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The catalyst bed of  claim 12  wherein said general adsorbent catalyst is positioned near an inlet port of said catalyst bed.  
     
     
         16 . The catalyst bed of  claim 12  wherein said selective adsorbent catalyst is positioned near an inlet port of said catalyst bed.  
     
     
         17 . A catalyst bed for the removal of sulfur-containing components from a hydrocarbon feedstream, said catalyst bed comprising a mixture of a selective adsorbent catalyst having an affinity for at least one sulfur-containing compound; and a general adsorbent catalyst capable of adsorbing sulfur-containing compounds in said hydrocarbon feedstream without a high degree of specificity.  
     
     
         18 . The catalyst bed of  claim 17  wherein said selective adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of copper/zinc catalysts, zinc oxide catalysts, copper/zinc/molybdenum oxide catalsyts, nickel aluminas, nickel silicas and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The catalyst bed of  claim 17  wherein said general adsorbent material is selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, magnesium oxide, copper/manganese, silver on alumina, nickel silicates, nickel silica/magnesia/alumina, zeolites, molecular sieves, faujasites and combinations thereof.