US2010264067A1PendingUtilityA1

Method for removing impurities from hydrocarbon oils

47
Assignee: GEN ELECTRICPriority: Apr 16, 2009Filed: Apr 16, 2009Published: Oct 21, 2010
Est. expiryApr 16, 2029(~2.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:John Aibangbee OsaheniAlison Liana PalmatierGrigorii Lev SoloveichikJohn Matthew BablinPaul Burchell GlaserThomas Joseph FyvieGregory Allen O'Neil
C10G 53/14C10G 17/09C10G 27/04
47
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Claims

Abstract

A method for removing impurities from a feedstock comprising a hydrocarbon oil is provided. The method comprises contacting the feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the impurities, as well as contacting the feedstock with a Lewis acid under conditions effective so that any Lewis base impurity(ies) in the feedstock can react with the Lewis acid. Any impurities so oxidized and/or reacted are then removed.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for removing impurities from a hydrocarbon oil comprising:
 (a) contacting the hydrocarbon oil with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the impurities;   (b) contacting the hydrocarbon oil with a Lewis acid under conditions effective so that any Lewis base impurity(ies) in the feedstock can react with the Lewis acid; and   (c) removing any impurities so oxidized and/or reacted from the hydrocarbon oil.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises air, ozone enriched air or a combination of these. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises mixture of nitric oxide and air, nitrogen dioxide or a combination of these. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the oxygen-containing gas comprises air, and the conditions effective to oxidize include the use of a catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the catalyst comprises molybdenum, copper, manganese, cobalt, tungsten, iron or combinations of these. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the impurities comprise sulfur, vanadium, nickel, or combinations of these. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the impurities comprise sulfur. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the impurities comprise substituted and unsubstituted benzothiophenes, dibenzothiophenes, phenanthiophenes, benzonathiophenes, alkyl sulfides, aryl sulfides or derivatives thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the sulfur impurities are oxidized to form sulfoxides and sulfones. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Lewis acid comprises AlCl 3 , GaCl 3 , FeCl 3 , or combinations of these. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the Lewis acid is used as a solution in an aprotic solvent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the aprotic solvent is nitromethane. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the oxidized or reacted impurities are removed by centrifugation and/or decantation. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein contact with the oxygen-containing gas and contact with the Lewis acid are caused to occur relatively simultaneously. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one step is repeated at least once. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the pretreatment of the fuel oil. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pretreatment comprises addition of a fuel solvent, removal of insoluble particulates, or both of these. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the fuel solvent comprises petroleum ether, hexanes, pentane, cyclohexane, heptane, propane, butane, or combinations of these. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising recovering and recycling the fuel solvent. 
     
     
         20 . A method for removing sulfur impurities from a hydrocarbon oil, the method comprising:
 (a) contacting the hydrocarbon oil with a gas comprising nitric oxide and oxygen, nitrogen dioxide or mixtures thereof under conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the sulfur impurities;   (b) contacting the oxidized feedstock with a Lewis acid under conditions effective so that Lewis base sulfur impurity(ies) in the feedstock can react with the Lewis acid; and   (c) removing any impurities so oxidized and/or reacted from the hydrocarbon oil.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the step of regeneration of the Lewis acid.

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