Selective sulfur removal from hydrocarbon streams by adsorption

Abstract

An adsorbent for selective removal of sulfur from a hydrocarbon feedstock includes a matrix material having a surface area of at least about 400 m 2 /g and a surface acidity of less than about 0.20 μmol/m 2 ; and a metal phase dispersed through the matrix, the metal phase being selective to reversible adsorption of sulfur. A process for using and method for making the adsorbent are also provided.

1 - 12 . (canceled)  
     
     
         13 . A process for removing sulfur compounds from a liquid hydrocarbon, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur;    providing an adsorbent comprising a matrix material having a surface area of at least about 400 m 2 /g and a surface acidity of less than about 0.20 μmol/m 2 , and a metal phase dispersed through said matrix, said metal phase being selective to reversible adsorption of sulfur; and    exposing said feedstock to said adsorbent under sulfur adsorption conditions whereby sulfur from said feedstock is adsorbed by said adsorbent.    
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said sulfur adsorption conditions include a temperature of less than or equal to about 300° C. and a pressure of less than or equal to about 500 psi.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said feedstock is selected from the group consisting of FCC cracked naphtha, Diesel and combination thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said feedstock has a diene content of at least about 1.4% by volume.  
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said feedstock contains sulfur in an amount less than or equal to about 1000 ppm.  
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said step of providing said adsorbent comprises drying said adsorbent at a temperature of between about 80° C. and about 250° C. to provide a dried adsorbent, and calcining said dried adsorbent at a temperature of between about 400° C. and about 700° C.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said feedstock contains organic sulfur compounds, and wherein said organic sulfur compounds are adsorbed by said adsorbent.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said exposing step results in an adsorbent having adsorbed sulfur, and further comprising flushing said adsorbent with a desorbent whereby said adsorbed sulfur is removed from said adsorbent.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein said flushing step is carried out at a temperature of less than or equal to about 300° C. and a pressure of less than or equal to about 300 psig.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 20 , wherein said desorbent is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 16  olefin-free hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said desorbent is selected from the group consisting of paraffins, aromatics alcohols, ethers, ketones and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 22 , wherein said desorbent is a C 1 -C 10  paraffinic hydrocarbon.  
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 20 , further comprising purging said adsorbent with a purging stream prior to said flushing step whereby non-adsorbed feedstock is removed from said adsorbent.  
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein said purging stream is inert with respect to said adsorbent.  
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein said purging stream is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, air, methane, ethane, propane and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled)