Process for mercaptan extraction from olefinic hydrocarbons

Patent · Tue Dec 02 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:7005953

Verachtert, T A

A process is described for treating hydrocarbon feed streams by removing mercaptans which comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a feed stream which comprises a saturated feed hydrocarbon having a boiling point below about 230 degrees Celsius. It also comprises at least 5 mole percent olefinic hydrocarbons and at least 1 mole percent total diolefinic and acetylene hydrocarbons with a hereinafter characterized regenerated aqueous alkaline solution in a first extraction zone and thereby forming a product hydrocarbon stream and a mercaptan-rich aqueous alkaline solution which comprises diolefinic hydrocarbons and acetylene hydrocarbons; (b) removing diolefinic and acetylene hydrocarbons from the mercaptan-rich aqueous alkaline solution by contacting the mercaptan-rich aqueous alkaline solution with a treating hydrocarbon stream in a second extraction zone and thereby forming a treated mercaptan-rich aqueous alkaline solution; (c) passing the treated mercaptan-rich aqueous alkaline solution into a mercaptan conversion zone in which mercaptans are converted to hydrocarbon soluble sulfur-containing chemical compounds. A conversion zone effluent stream is produced which comprises the sulfur-containing chemical compounds and an aqueous alkaline solution; and (d) separating a majority of the sulfur-containing chemical compounds from the conversion zone effluent stream in a separation zone and thereby forming the regenerated aqueous alkaline solution.

• Assignee: UOP, Inc., Des Plaines, IL
• Patent Number(s): US 4626341
• OSTI ID: 7005953
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ACETYLENE
ALKENES
ALKYNES
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
BOILING POINTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DESULFURIZATION
DISPERSIONS
EXTRACTION
HYDROCARBONS
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REGENERATION
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
THERMODYNAMIC PROPERTIES
THIOLS
TRANSITION TEMPERATURE