Desulfurization process

Abstract

This invention is a method of purifying fuels containing organosulfur impurities. The fuel is oxidized with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of an oxidation catalyst to form a sulfone product, followed by extraction of the sulfone product by solid-liquid or liquid-liquid extraction. The fuel is then contacted with a decomposition catalyst to remove the residual organic hydroperoxide from the fuel.

1 - 11 . (canceled)  
     
     
         12 . A process comprising: 
 (a) extracting organonitrogen impurities from a fuel containing organonitrogen and organosulfur impurities whereby the nitrogen content of fuel is reduced by at least 50 percent to produce a fuel having a reduced amount of organonitrogen impurities;    (b) isolating the fuel having a reduced amount of organonitrogen impurities;    (c) contacting the isolated fuel having a reduced amount of organonitrogen impurities with an organic hydroperoxide in the presence of a titanium-containing silicon oxide catalyst to form an oxidized fuel, wherein a substantial portion of the organosulfur impurities are converted into sulfones and a residual amount of organic hydroperoxide remains in the oxidized fuel;    (d) extracting the sulfones from the oxidized fuel by solid-liquid extraction using at least one sulfone adsorbent or liquid-liquid extraction using at least one polar solvent to form a fuel having a reduced amount of sulfones and a residual amount of organic hydroperoxide; and    (e) contacting the fuel from step (d) with a Group 4 to 11 transition metal-containing decomposition catalyst comprising a Group 4 to 11 transition metal and a support.    
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the organic hydroperoxide is tertiary butyl hydroperoxide.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the titanium-containing silicon oxide catalyst is titania-on-silica.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the sulfone adsorbent is selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, and silica-aluminas.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of a C 1 -C 4  alcohol, a C 3 -C 8  ketone, water, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the Group 4 to 11 transition metal is selected from the group consisting of chromium, titanium, iron, and mixtures thereof and the support is selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, silica-aluminas, and carbon.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the decomposition catalyst comprises chromium, silica, and optionally titanium.  
     
     
         19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . (canceled)