GB630204A - Improvements relating to the refining of heavy hydrocarbons - Google Patents

Abstract

Heavy hydrocarbons boiling above about 570 DEG F. such as wax distillates and asphaltic residues, are desulphurized without substantial alteration of boiling point by passing them in the liquid phase with sufficient hydrogen to satisfy the sulphur removal and the solubility of the hydrogen in the liquid feed over hydrogenation catalysts at a pressure of 800 to 1000 lbs. per sq. inch, and at a temperature between 750 DEG F. and 820 DEG F., the space velocity being maintained between 0.6 and 2.0 v./v./hr, whereby a substantial proportion of the sulphur is converted into hydrogen sulphide which is removed from the treated fraction in known manner. The catalyst is preferably of the cobalt molybdate type deposited on alumina. Other catalysts such as oxides or sulphides of nickel, cobalt, chromium, molybdenum, copper, manganese, and tungsten, metals such as sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, zinc, aluminium, manganese, iron nickel, cobalt, and copper, or compounds such as molybdates, thio-molybdates, or thiotungstates, may be used. Four examples are given.