A light naphtha feedstock containing olefins is introduced with hydrogen sulfide into a mercaptanization zone for conversion of the olefins into a mercaptan stream that is substantially free of olefins, after which the mercaptans are sent with an alkali caustic solution into a mercaptan oxidation treatment unit (MEROX) to produce a spent caustic stream and sweet light naphtha product stream that is substantially free of olefins and of mercaptans. Disulfide oils are produced from the wet air oxidation of the spent caustic, and the disulfide oils can be further processed to provide high purity olefin building blocks.

We disclose a process for purification of hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as refining bunker fuels to yield low-sulphur fuels, cleaning of waste engine oil (etc) to yield a usable hydrocarbon product, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 1500 Pa. A wide range of hydrocarbons can be treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as engine oils and sulphur-contaminated fuels are prime examples, but there are a wide range of others such as hydrocarbons derived from the pyrolysis of a material having a hydrocarbon content. One such example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils), which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above, and a residue that provides a useful solid fuel.

We disclose a process for purification of hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as refining bunker fuels to yield low-sulphur fuels, cleaning of waste engine oil (etc) to yield a usable hydrocarbon product, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 1500 Pa. A wide range of hydrocarbons can be treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as engine oils and sulphur-contaminated fuels are prime examples, but there are a wide range of others such as hydrocarbons derived from the pyrolysis of a material having a hydrocarbon content. One such example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils), which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above, and a residue that provides a useful solid fuel.

A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon comprises providing an initial processing unit and an end processing unit, the initial processing unit having an initial reactor assembly and an initial sorption system, the end processing unit having an end reactor assembly, a separator and an end sorption system. The method further comprises feeding a liquid hydrocarbon having a sulfur content into the initial reactor assembly, feeding an aqueous feed into the initial reactor assembly, shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the initial reactor assembly, to, in turn, react the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon, and directing the liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous feed to the initial sorption system. The method even further comprises feeding a sorbent into the initial sorption system and adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon.

A method of desulfurizing a liquid hydrocarbon comprises providing an initial processing unit and an end processing unit, the initial processing unit having an initial reactor assembly and an initial sorption system, the end processing unit having an end reactor assembly, a separator and an end sorption system. The method further comprises feeding a liquid hydrocarbon having a sulfur content into the initial reactor assembly, feeding an aqueous feed into the initial reactor assembly, shear mixing the liquid hydrocarbon and the aqueous feed within the initial reactor assembly, to, in turn, react the aqueous feed with the sulfur content of the liquid hydrocarbon, and directing the liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous feed to the initial sorption system. The method even further comprises feeding a sorbent into the initial sorption system and adsorbing at least some of the sulfur content that has reacted with the aqueous feed from the liquid hydrocarbon.

A light naphtha feedstock containing olefins is introduced with hydrogen sulfide into a mercaptanization zone for conversion of the olefins into a mercaptan stream that is substantially free of olefins, after which the mercaptans are sent with an alkali caustic solution into a mercaptan oxidation treatment unit (MEROX) to produce a spent caustic stream and sweet light naphtha product stream that is substantially free of olefins and of mercaptans. Disulfide oils are produced from the wet air oxidation of the spent caustic, and the disulfide oils can be further processed to provide high purity olefin building blocks.

A light naphtha feedstock containing olefins is introduced with hydrogen sulfide into a mercaptanization zone for conversion of the olefins into a mercaptan stream that is substantially free of olefins, after which the mercaptans are sent with an alkali caustic solution into a mercaptan oxidation treatment unit (MEROX) to produce a spent caustic stream and sweet light naphtha product stream that is substantially free of olefins and of mercaptans. Disulfide oils are produced from the wet air oxidation of the spent caustic, and the disulfide oils can be further processed to provide high purity olefin building blocks.

An integrated refinery process for producing diesel fuel blending stock from olefinic heavy naphtha streams that contain gasoline and compounds with carbon numbers in the range of from 9-14 are oxidized and converted into their corresponding oxides in the presence of a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst, or both, and optionally an acid phase transfer agent for the liquid reactants, the product oxides having boiling points about 34 C. higher than the corresponding olefins, and as a result, in the diesel blending component boiling point range. The oxygenates produced have lubricating properties that enhance the typically poor lubricity characteristics of ultra-low sulfur diesels and reduce the need for additives to improve the lubricity of the blended diesel fuels.

A method of preparing graphene from coal can include thermally processing raw coal and, after the coal has been at least partially cooled from thermal processing, forming reduced graphene oxide from the coal.

The invention relates to systems and methods for ultrasonic oxidative desulfurization of heavy fuel oils. In various embodiments, the methods include combinations of ultrasonic sulfone decomposition processes and/or catalytic decomposition processes.