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Title: Conversion of mercaptans to disulfides with soluble cobalt catalyst system

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5761277

A process is described for the conversion of a mercaptan to the corresponding disulfide which comprises contacting under oxidizing conditions (1) oxygen and (2) a reaction mixture consisting essentially of (a) the mercaptan and (b) a homogeneous catalyst system soluble in the reaction mixture the catalyst system consisting of a cobalt salt of a carboxylic acid, an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide and an alkanol. A process is described for the oxidation of a mercaptan to a disulfide which comprises: contacting under oxidizing conditions (1) oxygen and (2) a reaction mixture consisting essentially of (1) a mercaptan and (b) a homogeneous catalyst system soluble in the reaction mixture the catalyst system consisting of a cobalt salt of a carboxylic acid, an alkali or alkaline earth metal hydroxide and an alkanol wherein the amount of cobalt employed is in the approximate range of from about 0.001 to about 1 weight percent based on the amount of mercaptan present and wherein the amount of hydroxide is in the approximate range of from about 0.01 weight percent to about 10 weight percent based on the amount of mercaptan present.

Assignee:
Phillips Petroleum Co., Bartlesville, OK
Patent Number(s):
US 4700004
OSTI ID:
5761277
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: Filed date 6 Mar 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English