GB711925A - Improvements in or relating to process for sweetening hydrocarbon oils - Google Patents

Abstract

Mercaptan-containing hydrocarbon oils are sweetened by intimately contacting them, in the liquid state, with a catalyst consisting essentially of an inert adsorbent material, copper fluoride and at least about 8 per cent. by weight of water, at a temperature between about 190 DEG and 230 DEG F., and in the presence of free oxygen. Hydrocarbon oils mentioned are petroleum distillates such as naphthas, kerosene, Diesel oil, furnace oil and heater oil. The inert adsorbent may be Fuller's earth, attapulgus clay, silica gel, activated carbon or alumina. In an example, the oil is washed with caustic soda to remove H2S and then passed through a rock salt filler to remove traces of caustic soda. The oil is then heated to 190-230 DEG F., saturated with water and blown with air or commercial oxygen. A slurry made up of hot oil and the catalyst, which consists of 72 per cent. by weight of Fuller's earth, 8 per cent. of copper fluoride and 20 per cent. of water, is then pumped into the oil and the mixture allowed to settle. The oil is decanted, washed with water, cooled, and finally dried by passage through a salt filter. The catalyst may be revivified by addition of water to the spent catalyst-oil slurry and contacting this with oxygen.