Oxidative Desulfurization Catalyst for Ultra-Low Sulfur Hydrocarbon Streams
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for removing sulfur from hydrocarbonaceous oils, such as catalytic hydrodesulfurization, face challenges in achieving low sulfur content levels, particularly with refractory sulfur compounds, due to high hydrogen consumption, severe reaction conditions, and short catalyst lifetimes, making it difficult to achieve sulfur levels below 10 ppm.
Innovation Solution
The method involves oxidative desulfurization using a desulfurization catalyst with a solid carbon support material having oxidizing groups like sulfur trioxide and nitrogen dioxide, which selectively oxidizes sulfur compounds, allowing for their separation and achieving sulfur levels below 10 ppm, preferably below 5 ppm, by converting them into organic sulfoxides and sulfones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If catalytic hydrodesulfurization is used to remove sulfur from hydrocarbonaceous oils, then sulfur content can be reduced to below 10 ppm, but hydrogen consumption increases and reaction conditions become more severe
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental reaction parameter from hydrogenation to oxidation. Instead of using hydrogen to remove sulfur, the process uses oxygen to oxidize sulfur compounds to sulfoxides and sulfones, which are then removed from the hydrocarbon stream. This parameter change eliminates the need for high hydrogen consumption and severe hydrogenation conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the hydrodesulfurization mechanism with an oxidative mechanism. Traditional hydrodesulfurization uses catalytic hydrogenation, while this invention uses oxidation with oxygen to convert sulfur compounds into removable oxidized forms, substituting the chemical mechanism entirely.
2Manufacturing precision
If catalytic hydrodesulfurization conditions are increased to remove refractory sulfur compounds, then sulfur content decreases, but catalyst lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the reaction conditions from severe hydrogenation conditions to milder oxidation conditions. By using oxygen-based oxidation instead of hydrogenation, the process achieves removal of refractory sulfur compounds without the extreme conditions that degrade catalysts, thereby extending catalyst lifetime while maintaining low sulfur content.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional hydrodesulfurization is used to achieve ultra-low sulfur content below 1 ppm, then sulfur removal effectiveness increases, but reaction severity and hydrogen pressure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention fundamentally changes the pressure parameter by replacing high hydrogen pressure requirements with atmospheric or low pressure oxidation conditions. The oxidative process removes sulfur without requiring the high hydrogen partial pressures needed for hydrodesulfurization, enabling ultra-low sulfur content achievement under milder pressure conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces sulfur content in hydrocarbon streams to ultra-low levels, including below 1 ppm, while extending catalyst life and reducing the severity of desulfurization conditions, thus overcoming the limitations of traditional methods.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock that includes sulfur with a desulfurization catalyst to selectively oxidize at least a portion of the sulfur present to produce oxidized sulfur compounds
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a process and catalyst for the oxidative desulfurization of hydrocarbonaceous oil. In one aspect, solid carbon materials are provided having stable sulfur trioxide and nitrogen dioxide oxidative species on the surface thereof. Such materials are useful in the production of low sulfur hydrocarbon feedstocks and in the removal of refractory sulfur compounds.