Gasoline hydrodesulfurization

Abstract

Selective hydrodesulfurization of an olefinic gasoline fraction, e.g., cracked gasoline, is accomplished by use of a catalyst of a noble metal supported on an acidic support. Such a catalyst reduces the sulfur content to acceptable levels, while minimizing hydrogenation of olefins to retain octane quality of the treated gasoline fraction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A process for the hydrodesulfurization of an olefinic gasoline fraction, comprising: 
 hydrodesulfurizing an olefinic gasoline fraction in the presence of a catalyst comprising a noble metal supported on an acidic support.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the gasoline fraction contains at least 100 ppm of sulfur.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the gasoline fraction contains at least 5% wt olefins.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the catalyst further includes at least one of Mo, W, Cr, or Re, Mn, Tc.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the acidic support is at least one of silica-alumina, alumina or a zeolite.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the acidic support has pores with a pore diameter from 0.4 nm to 150 nm and a surface area of from 1 m 2 /g to 1500 m 2 /g.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the catalyst has a size of from 0.2 micron to 10 mm.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the catalyst is installed within a catalytic distillation column.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the catalyst is installed in a fixed bed reactor.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrodesulfurization is in the gas phase.