Patent ID: 7811538
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: B01D,C10L

Abstract:
1. A method for removing the mercaptans contained in a gaseous feed comprising hydrocarbons, wherein the following stages are carried out: a) contacting, in a reactor, the gaseous feed with a liquid stream comprising olefins, in the presence of a first acid catalyst so that the mercaptans react with the olefins so as to form sulfides, b) discharging an effluent from the reactor and separating the effluent into a gas phase and a liquid phase so as to obtain a mercaptan-depleted treated gas and a sulfide-laden liquid, c) dividing the sulfide-laden liquid into a first fraction of the sulfide-laden liquid and a second fraction of the sulfide-laden liquid, the volume flow rate of the first fraction being at least three times higher than the volume flow rate of the second fraction, d) recycling the first fraction to stage a) as a first portion of said liquid stream to be fed into said reactor, e) regenerating the second fraction by cracking so as to obtain a sulfide-depleted second fraction that is recycled to stage a) as a second portion of said liquid stream.