초록 ▼

The electrodesulfurization of heavy oil feedstreams is accomplished wherein a heavy oil feedstreams, along with hydrogen, is passed the cathode side of an electrochemical cell wherein the organically bound sulfur compounds in the heavy oil are reduced and the sulfur is released as hydrogen sulfide.

The electrodesulfurization of heavy oil feedstreams is accomplished wherein a heavy oil feedstreams, along with hydrogen, is passed the cathode side of an electrochemical cell wherein the organically bound sulfur compounds in the heavy oil are reduced and the sulfur is released as hydrogen sulfide. The hydrogen sulfide can be fed directly into the anode side of the electrochemical cell to produce sulfur and hydrogen or it can be passed to an oxidation zone containing an aqueous solution of an oxidized metal salt.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A process for removing sulfur from heavy oil feedstreams containing sulfur-containing molecules, which process comprises:a) heating and pressurizing said heavy oil feedstream to a temperature of about 400° F. (204° C.) to about 800° F. (426° C.) and a pressure of about 200 psi

What is claimed is: 1. A process for removing sulfur from heavy oil feedstreams containing sulfur-containing molecules, which process comprises:a) heating and pressurizing said heavy oil feedstream to a temperature of about 400° F. (204° C.) to about 800° F. (426° C.) and a pressure of about 200 psig to about 700 psig;b) passing said heated and pressurized heavy oil feedstream and an effective amount of a hydrogen source to the cathode side of a desulfurization electrochemical cell containing at least one cathode side and at least one anode side separated by an ion-permeable membrane and subjecting the heavy oil feedstream to a voltage in the range of about 4V to about 500V and a current density of about 10 mA/cm2 to about 1000 mA/cm2, thereby reducing at least a portion of the sulfur-containing molecules to hydrogen sulfide and resulting in a sulfur-lean heavy oil feedstream and hydrogen sulfide;c) separating said hydrogen sulfide from said sulfur-lean heavy oil feedstream in a gas/liquid separation zone; andd) introducing at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide into the anode side of said desulfurization electrochemical cell wherein it is oxidized to produce elemental sulfur and hydrogen ions, and at least a portion of the hydrogen ions migrate to the cathode side of said desulfurization electrochemical cell.