Process for reducing the level of elemental sulfur in hydrocarbon streams

Abstract

A process for reducing the level of elemental sulfur from sulfur-containing hydrocarbon streams, particularly refined fuel streams such as gasoline that is transported through a pipeline. A mercaptan compound is mixed with the stream prior to, or after, the stream is pipelined.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for reducing the level of elemental sulfur in hydrocarbon stream containing same, which process comprises treating said hydrocarbon stream with an effective amount of a mercaptan compound.  
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon stream is treated with said mercaptan compound prior to being transported through a pipeline.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon stream is treated with said mercaptan compound while being transported through a pipeline.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said hydrocarbon product stream is treated with said mercaptan compound after being transported through a pipeline.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mercaptan compound is represented by the formula RSH, where R represents an organic radical that may be alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said mercaptan compound is used in a concentration of from about 1 to about 1000 wppm.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon product stream is selected from the group consisting of gasoline boiling range streams and distillate boiling range streams.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrocarbon product stream is a dialkyl ether having 1 to 7 carbon atoms in each alkyl group.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the dialkyl ether is selected from the group consisting of methyl tertiary-butyl ether, methyl tertiary-amyl ether, methyl tertiary-hexyl ether, ethyl tertiary-butyl ether, n-propyl tertiary-butyl ether, and isopropyl tertiary-amyl ether.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the sulfur content of the hydrocarbon product stream before being treated with the mercaptan compound is up to about 1000 mg/l.  
     
     
         11 . A process for reducing the level of elemental sulfur in naphtha boiling range streams containing same, which process comprises treating said naphtha boiling range stream with an effective amount of a mercaptan compound represented by the formula RSH, where R represents an organic radical that may be alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl or arylalkyl having from 1 to about 16 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said hydrocarbon stream is treated with said mercaptan compound prior to being transported through a pipeline.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said hydrocarbon stream is treated with said mercaptan compound while being transported through a pipeline.  
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said mercaptan compound is used in a concentration of from about 1 to about 1000 wppm.