A reaction column comprises a plurality of cells each of which has a lower cell portion and an upper cell portion. The cells are arranged sequentially, from an uppermost cell to a lowermost cell. The fuel inlet is configured to direct fluid through the reaction column from a lower cell portion of the lowermost cell to an upper cell portion of the uppermost cell, and out of the fuel outlet. The reagent inlet is configured to direct reagent through the reaction column from the upper cell portion of the uppermost cell to the lower cell portion of the lowermost cell. The plurality of cells may be vertically or horizontally positioned, as well as inclined and the like. Systems and methods are likewise disclosed.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds; (d) supplying the residue stream to a coker to produce coker gases and solid coke; and (e) supplying spent adsorbent including residual oils from the adsorption column to the coker for disposing the spent adsorbent after completion of an adsorption cycle.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds; (d) supplying the residue stream to a coker to produce coker gases and solid coke; and (e) recycling at least a portion of the volatile component stream to the oxidation reactor to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds in the volatile component stream, the recycled portion of the volatile component stream comprising at least one of light coker gas oils and heavy coker gas oils.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for recovering components from a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock, separating the hydrocarbons, the oxidized sulfur compounds, and the oxidized nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction, collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds and the oxidized nitrogen compound, and supplying the first residue stream to a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The first residue stream is further supplied through a hydrotreater prior to supplying the first residue stream to the fluid catalytic cracking unit.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for recovering components from a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock, separating the hydrocarbons, the oxidized sulfur compounds, and the oxidized nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction, collecting a residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur compounds and the oxidized nitrogen compound, supplying the residue stream to a fluid catalytic cracking unit, and recycling liquid products produced by the fluid catalytic cracking unit to the oxidation reactor to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds in the liquid products, the portion of the liquids products including at least one of light cycle oils and heavy cycle oils.

Embodiments provide a method and apparatus for upgrading a hydrocarbon feedstock. According to at least one embodiment, the method includes the steps of (a) supplying a hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst under conditions sufficient to selectively oxidize sulfur and nitrogen compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur and nitrogen compounds by solvent extraction; (c) collecting a first residue stream that includes the oxidized sulfur and oxidized nitrogen compounds; (d) supplying the first residue stream to a deasphalting unit; (e) supplying the hydrocarbons to an adsorption column to produce a high purity hydrocarbon product and a second residue stream; and (f) supplying spent adsorbent to the deasphalting unit to remove additional contaminants from the high purity hydrocarbon product in the deasphalting unit.

A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon having the steps of: adding a liquid hydrocarbon to a vessel, the hydrocarbon having a sulfur content; adding a catalyst and an oxidizer to create a mixture; oxidizing at least some of the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon to form oxidized sulfur in the liquid hydrocarbon; separating the liquid hydrocarbon from the mixture; and removing at least some of the oxidized sulfur from the liquid hydrocarbon. Such methods can be carried out by batch or continuously. Systems for undertaking such methods are likewise disclosed.

Embodiments provide a method including: supplying the hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; collecting a residue stream that includes oxidized sulfur compounds; supplying the residue stream to a gasifier to produce a syngas stream and a hydrogen sulfide stream; supplying the extracted hydrocarbon stream to a stripper to produce a stripped oil stream, which is then supplied to an adsorption column, such that the adsorption column can produce a high purity hydrocarbon product stream, a second residue stream, and a spent adsorbent stream, the spent adsorbent stream containing another portion of the oxidized compounds; and supplying the spent adsorbent stream to the gasifier to produce additional syngas for the syngas stream, thereby disposing of the adsorbent.

Embodiments provide a method including: supplying the hydrocarbon feedstock to an oxidation reactor, where the hydrocarbon feedstock is oxidized in the presence of a catalyst to selectively oxidize sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock; separating the hydrocarbons and the oxidized sulfur compounds by solvent extraction; collecting a residue stream that includes oxidized sulfur compounds; supplying the residue stream to a gasifier to produce a syngas stream and a hydrogen sulfide stream; supplying the extracted hydrocarbon stream to a stripper to produce a stripped oil stream, which is then supplied to an adsorption column, such that the adsorption column can produce a high purity hydrocarbon product stream, a second residue stream, and a spent adsorbent stream, the spent adsorbent stream containing another portion of the oxidized compounds; and supplying the spent adsorbent stream to the gasifier to produce additional syngas for the syngas stream, thereby disposing of the adsorbent.

An oxidative treatment process, e.g., oxidative desulfurization or denitrification, is provided in which the oxidant is produced in-situ using an aromatic-rich portion of the original liquid hydrocarbon feedstock. The process reduces or replaces the need for the separate introduction of liquid oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide, organic peroxide and organic hydroperoxide in an oxidative treatment process.