Hydrocarbon Desulfurization to Clean Fuels by Selective Oxidation Versus Conventional Hydrotreating

Abstract

Environmental concerns have driven the need to remove sulfur-containing compounds to an extremely low level for transportation fuels. Conventional hydrodesulfurization catalysts can be used to remove a significant portion of the sulfur from petroleum distillates for the blending of refinery transportation fuels. Removing the last traces of sulfur compounds where the sulfur atom is sterically hindered, as in multi-ring aromatic sulfur compounds, is a significant challenge. One recent area of innovation to remove sulfur from upgraded crude is oxidative desulfurization, a process that can operate under mild conditions and without the need for external H₂. In this article, the mechanism, process, and the new inventions of selectively oxidative desulfurization are reviewed.

Keywords:

• desulfurization
• clean fuels oxidation
• crude oil
• catalysis
• nonconventional upgrading