A method of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an adsorbent comprising a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of uranyl oxide (UO.sub.3) to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to U in the range from 9:1 to 17:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 5:1 to 13:1.

A method of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an adsorbent comprising a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of uranyl oxide (UO.sub.3) to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to U in the range from 9:1 to 17:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 5:1 to 13:1.

A method of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an adsorbent comprising a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of uranyl oxide (UO.sub.3) to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to U in the range from 9:1 to 17:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 5:1 to 13:1.

A method of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an adsorbent comprising a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of uranyl oxide (UO.sub.3) to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to U in the range from 9:1 to 17:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 5:1 to 13:1.

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.

A method of removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid. The method includes contacting the hydrocarbon fluid with an adsorbent comprising a carbonaceous material doped with nanoparticles of uranyl oxide (UO.sub.3) to reduce the concentrations of the sulfur compounds. The carbonaceous material is at least one selected from the group consisting of activated carbon and carbon nanotubes, and the adsorbent has a weight ratio of C to U in the range from 9:1 to 17:1, and a weight ratio of C to O in the range from 5:1 to 13:1.

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.

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 process for converting light paraffins (especially C.sub.3-C.sub.5) to middle distillate and higher boiling range liquid hydrocarbons by (1) oxygen or air oxidation of iso-paraffins to alkyl hydroperoxides; (2) conversion of alkyl hydroperoxides to dialkyl peroxides; (3) radical coupling of paraffins using the dialkyl peroxides as radical initiators forming heavier hydrocarbon products; and (4) fractionation of the heavy hydrocarbon products. The net reaction is catalytically converting light paraffins to heavier hydrocarbons using oxygen or air to effect the conversion.

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.