Process for the desulfurization of petroleum oil stocks

Abstract

Abstract LOW SULFUR-CONTENT PETROLEUM OIL STOCKS ARE PREPARED BY CONTACTING A SULFUR-CONTAINING OIL STOCK WITH AN ALKALI METAL, PREFERABLY SODIUM, OR AN ALKALI METAL ALLOY, PREFERABLY SODIUM/LEAD, TO PRODUCE A MIXTURE COMPRISING A LOW SULFUR OIL AND A MIXTURE OF ALKALI METAL SALTS DISPERSED THEREIN. THE MIXTURE OF SALTS IN OIL IS RESOLVED BY CONTACTING THE SAME WITH, PREFERABLY, 30-160 MOLE PERCENT HYDROGEN SULFIDE BASED ON TOTAL MOLES OF SALT IN THE OIL, A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 670* F. OR ABOVE WHEREUPON A SALT PHASE SEPARATES FROM THE OIL. THUS SEPARATED THE SALT IS BLENDED WITH A MOLTEN SULFUR-RICH ALKALI METAL POLYSULFIDE THEREBY FORMING A SULFUR-DEPLETED ALKALI METAL POLYSULFIDE AND LIBERATING HYDROGEN SULFIDE. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION. MOLTEN SULFUR MAY BE USED IN PLACE OF THE POLYSULFIDE. THE SULFUR-DEPLETED POLYSULFIDE IS THEN DECOMPOSED ELECTROLYTICALLY TO REFORM ALKALI METAL AND A SULFUR-RICH POLYSULFIDE, FROM WHICH ELEMENTAL SULFUR IS RECOVERED.

Inventors

• 👤 W Lewis
• 👤 A Welty
• 👤 R Bearden
• 👤 R Macmullin

Bibliographic Details