Desulfurization process

Abstract

The present invention therefore pertains to a process for desulfurizing a sulfur compound-containing liquid fossil fuel. By continuously adding a solution comprising an oxidant to the sulfur compound-containing liquid fossil fuel, it is possible to improve oxidant utilization and achieve higher sulfur removal rate.

1 . A process for desulfurizing a sulfur compound-containing liquid fossil fuel, comprising at least following steps:
 adding a solution comprising an oxidant to the sulfur compound-containing liquid fossil fuel and optionally a catalyst to form an oxidation reaction mixture;   maintaining the reaction mixture under reaction conditions to ensure completion of an oxidation reaction;   
       wherein:
 a molar ratio of the oxidant to the sulfur compound in the liquid fossil fuel is from 2:1 to 10:1; 
 a concentration of the oxidant in the solution is from 5 wt. % to 70 wt. %; and 
 the solution comprising the oxidant is continuously added to the liquid fossil fuel within 0.16 h to 3 h. 
 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur compound-containing liquid fossil fuel is dissolved in a solvent. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fossil fuel has a kinematic viscosity of 0.05 to 700 mm 2 /s at 50° C. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur is present in an amount of 0.6 to 8.0 wt. % in the liquid fossil fuel, relative to a total weight of the liquid fossil fuel, as measured by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer following a standard method ISO 8217:2017. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is selected from a group consisting of: hydrogen peroxide, performic acid, peracetic acid and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the oxidant to the sulfur compound in the liquid fossil fuel is from 2:1 to 8:1. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the liquid fossil fuel to the solution is from 1:0.001 to 1:4. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is performic acid and a concentration of performic acid is from 5 wt. % to 50 wt. %, based on a total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein formic acid is comprised in the solution and a weight ratio of formic acid is present in an amount of 40 to 98 wt. %, relative to a total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the oxidant is hydrogen peroxide at a concentration ranging from 20 wt. % to 40 wt. %, based on a total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 10 , wherein the oxidation reaction is carried out in the presence of a polyoxometalate. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 11 , wherein a weight ratio of polyoxometalate to the liquid fossil fuel is from 1:100 to 1:30. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fossil fuel has a kinematic viscosity from 0.5 to 500 mm 2 /s at 50° C. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the liquid fossil fuel has a kinematic viscosity from 1 to 450 mm 2 /s at 50° C. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur is present in an amount from 0.8 to 6 wt. % in the liquid fossil fuel, relative to a total weight of the liquid fossil fuel, as measured by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer following a standard method ISO 8217:2017. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur is present in an amount from 0.8 to 3.5 wt. % in the liquid fossil fuel, relative to a total weight of the liquid fossil fuel, as measured by X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer following a standard method ISO 8217:2017. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the molar ratio of the oxidant to the sulfur compound in the liquid fossil fuel is from 2.5:1 to 7.5:1. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein a weight ratio of the liquid fossil fuel to the solution is from 1:0.1 to 1:2. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein formic acid is comprised in the solution and a weight ratio of formic acid is present in an amount of 45 to 98 wt. % in the solution, relative to the total weight of the solution.