Patent ID: 7179368
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: C07D,C10G

Abstract:
1. Method of selective desulfurizing of thiophene compounds contained in refined or unrefined hydrocarbons derived from the distillation of crude oil, comprising: oxidizing thiophene sulfur atoms into sulfone in the presence of an oxidizing agent; and separating the sulfone compounds from said hydrocarbons, characterized in that the thiophene compounds are oxidized in a two-phase turbulent phase consisting of a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase, in the presence of at least one oxidizing agent soluble in at least one of the two phases, the oxidizing agent being selected from the group consisting of organic peroxides, hydrogen peroxide, organic hydroperoxides, peracids, alkaline persulfates, and alkaline earth persulfates, and in the presence of at least one metal catalyst selected from the group consisting of (1) metal phthalocyanines and (2) catalysts comprising (i) a support selected from the group consisting of silicas, aluminas, zirconias, amorphous or crystalline aluminosilicates, aluminophosphates, mesoporous solids, and mixtures thereof, and (ii) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, zirconium, vanadium, chromium, molybdenum, iron, manganese and tungsten, where said metal (ii) can be introduced into the support network or impregnated in complex or non complex form, wherein the separation and the oxidation occur simultaneously, and wherein the aqueous solution pH is kept under 12.