Desulfurization process of hydrocarbon feeds with electrolytic hydrogen

Abstract

A process for removing sulfur from hydrocarbon feeds, including the steps of providing a hydrocarbon feed containing sulfur; providing a cell having two compartments and a membrane separating the compartments; flowing a hydrogen source through one compartment; flowing the hydrocarbon feed through the other compartment; applying a current across the hydrogen source compartment whereby hydrogen diffuses through the membrane from the hydrogen source to the hydrocarbon feed, whereby the hydrogen reacts with sulfur to form H 2 S and produce a treated hydrocarbon.

1 - 17 . (canceled)  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for removing sulfur from a hydrocarbon feed, comprising: 
 a cell having two compartments and a membrane separating the compartments, wherein one compartment is communicated with a hydrogen source and the other compartment is communicated with the hydrocarbon feed to be treated; and    a power source connected across the hydrogen source compartment to generate a current across same, whereby atomic hydrogen is formed from the hydrogen source at a surface of the membrane and diffuses across the membrane to react with the hydrocarbon feed.