A process for producing a low-cost water-reactive sulfide material includes reacting a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal salt, a substantially anhydrous first sulfide compound, and a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal hydrosulfide compound in a substantially anhydrous polar solvent, providing differential solubility for a substantially high solubility second sulfide and a substantially low solubility second alkali metal salt, and forming a mixture of the high solubility second sulfide, a second alkali metal hydrosulfide, and the low solubility second alkali metal salt; removing the low solubility second alkali metal salt to isolate the supernatant including the second sulfide, and separating the polar solvent from the second sulfide and the second alkali metal hydrosulfide followed by heating to produce the second sulfide. The present disclosure provides a scalable process for production of a high purity alkali metal sulfide that is essentially free of undesired contaminants.

A method for removing alkali metal from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising alkali metal, non-alkali metal and sulfur. The method includes separating out at least a portion of any alkali metal sulfide and a portion of any non-alkali metal from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Hydrogen sulfide can be added to the remaining hydrocarbon feedstock to form alkali hydrosulfide from any alkali metal remaining in the hydrocarbon feedstock. The alkali hydrosulfide is then separated from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali metal may be removed from the alkali metal sulfide separated out from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali hydrosulfide may be treated to form alkali metal sulfide, and alkali metal may also be removed from the formed alkali metal sulfide.

A method for removing alkali metal from a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising alkali metal, non-alkali metal and sulfur. The method includes separating out at least a portion of any alkali metal sulfide and a portion of any non-alkali metal from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Hydrogen sulfide can be added to the remaining hydrocarbon feedstock to form alkali hydrosulfide from any alkali metal remaining in the hydrocarbon feedstock. The alkali hydrosulfide is then separated from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali metal may be removed from the alkali metal sulfide separated out from the hydrocarbon feedstock. Alkali hydrosulfide may be treated to form alkali metal sulfide, and alkali metal may also be removed from the formed alkali metal sulfide.

A process for producing a low-cost water-reactive sulfide material includes reacting a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal salt, a substantially anhydrous first sulfide compound, and a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal hydrosulfide compound in a substantially anhydrous polar solvent, providing differential solubility for a substantially high solubility second sulfide and a substantially low solubility second alkali metal salt, and forming a mixture of the high solubility second sulfide, a second alkali metal hydrosulfide, and the low solubility second alkali metal salt; removing the low solubility second alkali metal salt to isolate the supernatant including the second sulfide, and separating the polar solvent from the second sulfide and the second alkali metal hydrosulfide followed by heating to produce the second sulfide. The present disclosure provides a scalable process for production of a high purity alkali metal sulfide that is essentially free of undesired contaminants.

A process for producing a low-cost water-reactive sulfide material includes reacting a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal salt, a substantially anhydrous first sulfide compound, and a substantially anhydrous first alkali metal hydrosulfide compound in a substantially anhydrous polar solvent, providing differential solubility for a substantially high solubility second sulfide and a substantially low solubility second alkali metal salt, and forming a mixture of the high solubility second sulfide, a second alkali metal hydrosulfide, and the low solubility second alkali metal salt; removing the low solubility second alkali metal salt to isolate the supernatant including the second sulfide, and separating the polar solvent from the second sulfide and the second alkali metal hydrosulfide followed by heating to produce the second sulfide. The present disclosure provides a scalable process for production of a high purity alkali metal sulfide that is essentially free of undesired contaminants.

The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150 C., to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.

The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150 C., to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.

The present technology provides a process that includes heating a first mixture of elemental sulfur and particles comprising an alkali metal sulfide in a liquid hydrocarbon to a temperature of at least 150 C., to provide a sulfur-treated mixture comprising agglomerated particles; and separating the agglomerated particles from the sulfur-treated mixture to provide a desulfurized liquid hydrocarbon and separated solids. This process may be used as part of a suite of processes for desulfurizing liquid hydrocarbons contaminated with organosulfur compounds and other heteroatom-based contaminants. The present technology further provides processes for converting carbon-rich solids (e.g., petroleum coke) into fuels.