Alkali metal desulfurization process for petroleum oil stocks

Abstract

Abstract LOW SULFUR-CONTENT PETROLEUM OIL STOCKS ARE PREPARED BY CONTACTING A SULFUR-CONTAINING OIL STOCK WITH AN ALKALIMETAL, PREFERABLY SODIUM, OR AN ALKALI METAL ALLOY, PREFERABLY SODIUM/LEAD, TO PRODUCE A MIXTURE COMPRISING A LOW SULFUR CONTENT OIL CONTAINING ALKALI METAL SALT DISPERSED THEREIN. THE MIXTURE OF SALTS IN OIL IS RESOLVED BY CONTACTING THE SAME, IN ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION, WITH 10-80 MOLE PERCENT H2O BASED ON TOTAL MOLES OF SALT IN THE OIL, AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST ABOUT 610* F., WHEREUPON A SALT PHASE SEPARATES FROM THE OIL. IN A SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION, THE CONTACTING IS CONDUCTED WITH ABOUT 110-200 MOLE PERCENT H2O, AT A TEMPERATURE RANGING BETWEEN ABOUT 500-750* F. IN A LATTER EMBODIMENT, THE WATER-TREATED MIXTURE IS SUBSEQUENTLY COOLED TO BELOW ABOUT 250* F. THUS SEPARATED THE SALT IS BLENDED WITH A MOLTEN SULFUR-RICH ALKALI METHAL POLYSULFIDE AND H2S THEREBY FORMING A SULFUR-DEPLETED ALKALI METHA POLYSULFIDE WHICH IS THEN DECOMPOSED ELECTROLYTICALLY TO FORM ALKALI METAL AND A SULFUR-RICH POLYSULFIDE, WHICH IS SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED IN SULFUR CONTENT.

Inventors

• 👤 R Bearden

Bibliographic Details