Process for Removing Color Bodies from Hydrocarbon-Based Fuels Using Activated Carbons

Abstract

A process for removing color bodies from hydrocarbon-based fuels, particularly gasoline, using an activated carbon is disclosed. Color bodies are removed from the fuel by contacting the fuel with such activated carbon having within this pore structure a fuel decolorizing amount of polymerized phosphoric acid or reduced transition metals. Phosphoric acid may be added to a non-phosphoric acid-activated carbon (such as steam activated coal-based) prior to the subsequent heat treatment or one can take advantage of residual phosphoric acid present in, for example, a phosphoric acid-activated wood-based carbon. Similarly, transition metals such as copper may be added to an activated carbon in a salt form in addition to whatever is already present therein as impurities.

1 . A process for removing color bodies from hydrocarbon-based fuel comprising the steps of: 
 a. contacting hydrocarbon-based fuel with a decolorizing carbon having within this pore structure a fuel decolorizing amount of reduced transition metal; and    b. adsorbing at least a portion of color bodies within the hydrocarbon-based fuel onto the decolorizing carbon to produce a decolorized hydrocarbon-based fuel.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the decolorized hydrocarbon-based fuel of step (b) has a Saybolt gain of at least 15 compared to the hydrocarbon-based fuel of step (a).  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the hydrocarbon-based fuel of step (a) has a Saybolt value less than or equal to −10 and the decolorized hydrocarbon-based fuel of step (b) has a Saybolt value of a least 12.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the decolorizing carbon comprises carbon produced by steam, phosphoric acid, or zinc chloride activation.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the fuel decolorizing amount of reduced transition metal is in the range from about 0.1% to about 5%.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the reduced transition metal comprises copper.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the fuel decolorizing amount of reduced transition metal is in the range from about 1% to about 3%.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein the reduced transition metal comprises copper.