Patent ID: 6495029
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for the desulfurization of a stream selected from petroleum and chemical streams containing condensed ring sulfur heterocyclic compounds in a process unit at conditions favoring aromatic saturation comprised of at least one reaction zone having a non-reaction zone upstream and downstream thereof and at least one sorbent zone containing a bed of hydrogen sulfide sorbent material downstream of the first of said at least one reaction zones, wherein the hydrodesulfurization catalyst and the hydrogen sulfide sorbent in the hydrogen sulfide sorbent zone are comprised as composite particles, which reaction zone(s) contain hydrodesulfurization catalyst, which process comprises:(a) feeding said stream to one or more hydrodesulfurization reaction zones counter-current to upflowing hydrogen-containing treat gas; (b) passing the resulting liquid phase effluent from at least one of said reaction zones through a zone containing a bed of a hydrogen sulfide sorbent material; (c) recovering a vapor phase effluent from said reaction zone in an upstream non-reaction zone, which vapor phase effluent is comprised of hydrogen-containing treat gas and vaporized sulfur reaction products from said reaction zone; and (d) recovering downstream from said sorbent zone a liquid phase effluent characterized as having substantially no sulfur.