Stabilization of jet fuel

Abstract

The stability of distillate type jet fuels is improved by cathodic hydrogenation in an electrolytic cell with a proton permeable membrane separating cathode and anode compartments; a source of hydrogen is oxidized in the anode compartment to form protons which permeate the membrane to effect a cathodic reduction of the nitrogenous components of the fuel in the cathode compartment.

1 . A method for the denitrogenation of a distillate boiling range jet fuel which comprises cathodically hydrogenating nitrogenous components of the fuel in a cathode compartment of a divided electrolytic cell having a proton permeable membrane separating the cathode compartment from an anode compartment in which a source of hydrogen is anodically oxidized to form protons. 
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the proton permeable membrane comprises a membrane electrode assembly comprising a having a catalytic anode surface and a catalytic cathode surface on opposing surfaces of the membrane. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the proton permeable membrane comprises an ionomer. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the proton permeable membrane comprises sulfonated poly(tetrafluoroethylene). 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 2  in which the catalytic anode surface comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5  in which the catalytic anode surface comprises platinum or palladium. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 2  in which the catalytic cathode surface comprises a an electrically conductive catalytic material having hydrogenation activity. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  in which the catalytic cathode surface comprises a finely divided Raney-type metal. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 7  in which the catalytic cathode surface comprises a noble metal. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7  in which the catalytic cathode surface comprises platinum or palladium. 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 1  which is carried out at a temperature of not more than 80° C. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the distillate boiling range jet fuel comprises a kerosene having an initial boiling point of not less than 150° C. and an endpoint not more than 300° C. (ASTM D86). 
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1  in which nitrogenous components of the fuel are hydrogenated to form ammonia which is released from the treated fuel in a liquid/gas separator. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  in the ammonia is released from the treated fuel by stripping with inert gas. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  in the ammonia is released from the treated fuel by increasing the temperature of the treated fuel. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the hydrogen source comprises hydrogen gas. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the hydrogen source comprises water.