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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Caustic free liquid/liquid process for sweetening a sour hydrocarbon fraction

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5356809

This patent describes a catalyst effective in oxidizing mercaptans contained in a sour hydrocarbon fraction to disulfides. It comprises ammonium hydroxide, a metal chelate and an onium compound in an aqueous solution, the onium compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, arsonium, stibonium, oxonium and sulfonium compounds having the formula (R{prime}R{double prime}R{sub y}M) {sup +}X{sup {minus}} where R is a hydrocarbon group containing up to about 20 carbon atoms and selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, and aralkyl, R{prime} is a straight chain alkyl group containing from about 5 to about 20 carbon atoms, R{double prime} is a hydrocarbon group selected from the group consisting of aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl, M is nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, oxygen or sulfur, X is, a halide and y is 1 when M is oxygen or sulfur and y is 2 when M is phosphorus, arsenic, antimony or nitrogen.

Assignee:
UOP, Des Plaines, IL (United States)
Patent Number(s):
US 5093296; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-572824
OSTI ID:
5356809
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English