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.

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.

The invention relates to the oil-refining industry, in particular, to methods for purifying a fuel from sulfur-containing compounds. The method for purifying liquid hydrocarbon motor fuels from sulfur and for further reducing the sulfur dioxide content in exhaust gases up to zero during combustion of the fuels by modifying the sulfur-containing fuel molecules in a fully-developed cavitation mode, by separating the sulfur-containing modified molecules from the remainder of the fuel molecules on polymer membranes and by activating the fuel purified up to 20 ppm in the fully-developed cavitation mode prior to the combustion. What is novel is that the reduction of the sulfur content in the fuel is achieved by means of treating the fuel or a fuel fraction in the fully-developed cavitation mode with addition of a hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution and/or a strong aqueous solution of iron oxides to the fuels, followed by separating the obtained emulsion into a fuel fraction and a water-paraffin emulsion, followed by separating the fuel fraction on the membranes under the temperature of from 90 C. to 180 C. under the atmospheric pressure into a fuel fraction having a low sulfur content and a fuel fraction having an increased sulfur content. Reduction of the sulfur dioxide in the exhaust gases during combustion of the purified fuels up to zero by means of activation of the fuels having the low sulfur content in the fully-developed cavitation mode is performed without addition of other chemical substances. Production of a reduced oil-water emulsion from the water-paraffin emulsion and the fuel fraction having the increased sulfur content that increases the efficiency of reduced oils combustion is performed in boiler units. Reduction of the sulfur content in the fuel or fuel fractions is performed up to the required level of 20 ppm or less. Treatment of the initial fuel or fuel fraction by the cavitation is performed under the pressure of 1.0-0.5.0 atm and the temperature of 20 C.-70 C.

A system for processing fuel to remove sulfur species through the oxidation of the sulfur species is disclosed which includes one or more (and preferably two or more processing units). Additionally, a method of removing sulfur species through the oxidation of the sulfur species is also disclosed. The system and the method rely on the use of aqueous and does not require the removal (through sorption or the like) at each or between each processing unit. Such a configuration for numerous reasons is economically advantageous.

A system for processing fuel to remove sulfur species through the oxidation of the sulfur species is disclosed which includes one or more (and preferably two or more processing units). Additionally, a method of removing sulfur species through the oxidation of the sulfur species is also disclosed. The system and the method rely on the use of aqueous and does not require the removal (through sorption or the like) at each or between each processing unit. Such a configuration for numerous reasons is economically advantageous.

An integrated controlled catalytic oxidation process converts low value disulfide oil (DSO) compounds produced as a by-product of a generalized mercaptan oxidation (MEROX) process into oxidized DSO (ODSO) compounds including sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfonates and sulfinates that are completely or partially water soluble and which have utility, e.g., as lubricity additives in diesel fuel and as a solvent in aromatic solvent separation processes.

An integrated controlled catalytic oxidation process converts low value disulfide oil (DSO) compounds produced as a by-product of a generalized mercaptan oxidation (MEROX) process into oxidized DSO (ODSO) compounds including sulfoxides, sulfones, sulfonates and sulfinates that are completely or partially water soluble and which have utility, e.g., as lubricity additives in diesel fuel and as a solvent in aromatic solvent separation processes.

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.

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 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.