A system for processing fuel to remove sulfur species through the oxidation of the sulfur species is described 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 described. The system and the method rely on the use of aqueous feed 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 described 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 described. The system and the method rely on the use of aqueous feed 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 fiber bundle contactor may include: a flow path defined by a conduit; a catalytic carbon fiber bundle disposed in the conduit; and an inlet allowing fluid flow into the flow path. A method may include: introducing into vessel a hydrocarbon comprising mercaptan sulfur, an aqueous caustic solution, and an oxidizer; reacting at least a portion of the mercaptan sulfur and the aqueous caustic solution to produce a mercaptide; and reacting the mercaptide and the oxidizer in the presence of a catalytic carbon fiber bundle to produce a disulfide oil.

A fiber bundle contactor may include: a flow path defined by a conduit; a catalytic carbon fiber bundle disposed in the conduit; and an inlet allowing fluid flow into the flow path. A method may include: introducing into vessel a hydrocarbon comprising mercaptan sulfur, an aqueous caustic solution, and an oxidizer; reacting at least a portion of the mercaptan sulfur and the aqueous caustic solution to produce a mercaptide; and reacting the mercaptide and the oxidizer in the presence of a catalytic carbon fiber bundle to produce a disulfide oil.

We disclose a process for purification of mixed hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as separating and recovering mixed polymer materials, refining used oils and fuels, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, to yield clean hydrocarbon distillates suitable for use as recycled feedstocks in chemical industries or as low sulphur fuels for motive use, 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 bearing material 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 14000 Pa. A wide range of mixed materials and hydrocarbons can be separated and treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as mixed plastic packaging waste, industrial polymers, pyrolysis oils etc, are typical examples, but there are a wide range of other materials having a hydrocarbon content. One such prime example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils) etc, which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above to provide a carbon black residue that has extensive industrial uses.

We disclose a process for purification of mixed hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as separating and recovering mixed polymer materials, refining used oils and fuels, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, to yield clean hydrocarbon distillates suitable for use as recycled feedstocks in chemical industries or as low sulphur fuels for motive use, 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 bearing material 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 14000 Pa. A wide range of mixed materials and hydrocarbons can be separated and treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as mixed plastic packaging waste, industrial polymers, pyrolysis oils etc, are typical examples, but there are a wide range of other materials having a hydrocarbon content. One such prime example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils) etc, which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above to provide a carbon black residue that has extensive industrial uses.

The invention relates to the oil-refining industry, in particular, to methods for purifying a fuel from sulfur-containing compounds, by separating the sulfur-containing modified molecules from the remainder of the fuel molecules on polymer membranes and by activating the fuel purified in the fully-developed cavitation mode prior to the combustion. The reduction of the sulfur content in the fuel is achieved by 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, 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 atmospheric pressure into a fuel fraction having low sulfur combustion of the purified fuels down to zero by means of activation of the fuels having the low sulfur content.

The invention relates to the oil-refining industry, in particular, to methods for purifying a fuel from sulfur-containing compounds, by separating the sulfur-containing modified molecules from the remainder of the fuel molecules on polymer membranes and by activating the fuel purified in the fully-developed cavitation mode prior to the combustion. The reduction of the sulfur content in the fuel is achieved by 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, 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 atmospheric pressure into a fuel fraction having low sulfur combustion of the purified fuels down to zero by means of activation of the fuels having the low sulfur content.

Described is a novel process for disaggregating biomass pyrolysis oil quantitatively into energy dense hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF), fermentable pyrolytic sugars and phenolics based products in a highly economical and energy efficient manner. Phase separation of the esterified pyrolysis oil after an oxidative pre-treatment and the quantitative recovery of the separate fractions is described. Phase separation uses batch as well as continuous reactor systems. The resulting HAF is an energy dense, thermally stable, water free, non-corrosive to carbon steel, and is a free flowing liquid suitable for combustion and for upgrading to transportation fuels. Pyrolytic sugars which are mainly anhydrosugars can be further converted by fermentation to ethanol or other products. Monomeric phenols are useful industrial intermediates and the organic acids in the original pyrolysis oil are mainly recovered as esters of the separation solvents.

Described is a novel process for disaggregating biomass pyrolysis oil quantitatively into energy dense hydrophobic aromatic fraction (HAF), fermentable pyrolytic sugars and phenolics based products in a highly economical and energy efficient manner. Phase separation of the esterified pyrolysis oil after an oxidative pre-treatment and the quantitative recovery of the separate fractions is described. Phase separation uses batch as well as continuous reactor systems. The resulting HAF is an energy dense, thermally stable, water free, non-corrosive to carbon steel, and is a free flowing liquid suitable for combustion and for upgrading to transportation fuels. Pyrolytic sugars which are mainly anhydrosugars can be further converted by fermentation to ethanol or other products. Monomeric phenols are useful industrial intermediates and the organic acids in the original pyrolysis oil are mainly recovered as esters of the separation solvents.