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.

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.

A process for converting light paraffins to heavier paraffinic hydrocarbon fluids is disclosed. The process involves: (1) oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols; (2) conversion of the alkyl hydroperoxides and alcohols to dialkyl peroxides; and (3) radical-initiated coupling of paraffins and/or iso-paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators, thereby forming heavier hydrocarbon products. Fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products can then be used to isolate fractions for use as hydrocarbon fluids.

A process and system for reducing the sulfur content from a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxidized sulfur-containing hydrocarbons is provided by electrochemical decomposition. The electrochemical reactions occur under electrical potential and in the presence of an electrolyte solution that is effective promote decomposition of a portion of the oxidized sulfur compounds, to recover a hydrocarbon product having a reduced sulfur content while minimizing loss of hydrocarbon.

A process and system for reducing the sulfur content from a mixture of hydrocarbons and oxidized sulfur-containing hydrocarbons is provided by electrochemical decomposition. The electrochemical reactions occur under electrical potential and in the presence of an electrolyte solution that is effective promote decomposition of a portion of the oxidized sulfur compounds, to recover a hydrocarbon product having a reduced sulfur content while minimizing loss of hydrocarbon.

The present disclosure provides a method for removing sulfur compounds from a fuel containing sulfur compounds. The method includes contacting the fuel with an adsorbent that comprises a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of aluminum oxide to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to Al in the range from 3:1 to 30:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 1:1 to 10:1.

The present disclosure provides a method for removing sulfur compounds from a fuel containing sulfur compounds. The method includes contacting the fuel with an adsorbent that comprises a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of aluminum oxide to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon nanotubes, and graphene oxide, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to Al in the range from 3:1 to 30:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 1:1 to 10:1.

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.