Process for oxidation of mercaptans in hydrocarbon distillates and in akaline medium

Claim 2

In a process for the oxidation of a mercaptan-containing hydrocarbon distillate with oxygen or oxygen-containing gas an alkaline medium and a metal phthalocyanine catalyst, the improvement comprising said catalyst of a metal phthalocyanine composition being prepared by reacting (a) a 4-sulfophthalic acid or salt thereof, with (b) a metal salt selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, vanadium and magnanese, (c) an ammonium donor compound decomposable to ammonia or ammonium moiety, and (d) water, at a temperature of 255° to 325° C for one-half to ten hours.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said 4-sulfophthalic acid or salt thereof is selected from the group consisting of triammonium-4-sulfophthalate, 4-sulfophthalic acid, sodium-4-sulfophthalate, and disodium-4-sulfophthalate.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said metal salt is selected from the group consisting of cobalt sulfate heptahydrate, vanadyl sulfate, manganese sulfate, and rhodium nitrate.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein said ammonium donor is either urea or hydrazine.

Claim 6

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst preparation reaction includes a promoter.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 wherein the promoter is selected from ammonium molybdate, molybdic acid, and boric acid.

Claim 8

The process of claim 6 wherein prior to heating at 255° to 325° C for one-half to ten hours, the mixture is first heated at 120° to 150° C for one-half to two hours and then at 150° to 250° C for one-half to two hours.

Claim 9

A process for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon distillate containing mercaptans comprising contacting said distillate with an alkaline medium and a catalyst comprising a metal phthalocyanine composition prepared by reacting (a) a 4-sulfophthalic acid or salt thereof, with salt (b) a metal selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, vanadium and manganese, (c) an ammonium donor compound decomposable to ammonia or ammonium moiety, and (d) water, at a temperature of 255° to 325° C for one-half to ten hours, and contacting said alkaline medium containing catalyst with an oxidizing agent to oxidize mercaptans to disulfides in said medium, said recovering a hydrocarbon distillate with reduced mercaptan sulfur content.

Claim 10

A process for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon distillate containing mercaptans comprising contacting said distillate with an alkaline medium and a catalyst comprising a metal phthalocyanine composition prepared by reacting (a) a 4-sulfophthalic acid or salt thereof, with salt (b) a metal selected from the group consisting of a Group VIII metal, vanadium and manganese, (c) an ammonium donor compound decomposable to ammonia or ammonium moiety, and (d) water, at a temperature of 255° to 325° C for one-half to ten hours, and contacting said alkaline medium containing catalyst with an oxidizing agent to oxidize mercaptans to disulfides in said medium, said recovering a hydrocarbon distillate with reduced mercaptan sulfur content.

Claim 11

Process of claim 8 wherein said catalyst is dispersed in an alkaline medium of an aqueous solution of NaOH of pH 8 to 14.

Claim 12

Process of claim 8 wherein said catalyst is composited with a charcoal carrier and the catalyst and charcoal composite is wetted with an aqueous solution of NaOH of pH 8 to 14.