Oxidative Desulfurization Process

Abstract

Disclosed is a process which reduces the sulfur and/or nitrogen content of a distillate feedstock to produce a refinery transportation fuel or blending components for refinery transportation fuel, by contacting the feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas in an 5 oxidation/adsorption zone at oxidation conditions in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a titanium-containing composition whereby the sulfur species are converted to sulfones and/or sulfoxides which are adsorbed onto the titanium-containing composition.

1 . A process for desulfurizing a distillate feedstock to produce refinery transportation fuel or blending components for refinery transportation fuel wherein the feedstock contains sulfur-containing organic impurities which process comprises:
 (a) contacting the feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas in an oxidation/adsorption zone at oxidation conditions in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a titanium-containing composition to convert at least a portion of the sulfur-containing organic impurities to sulfones and/or sulfoxides;   (b) adsorbing the sulfones and/or sulfoxides on to the oxidation catalyst; and   (c) recovering an oxidation/adsorption zone effluent having a reduced amount of sulfur-containing impurities.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the oxidation catalyst is regenerated to produce an oxidation catalyst that contains less adsorbed sulfones and/or sulfoxides. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the regeneration is carried out by contacting the catalyst with methanol under conditions to desorb the adsorbed sulfones and/or sulfoxides. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the titanium-containing composition is selected from the group consisting of titanium silicate, Ti-MCM, and Ti-HMS.