Patent ID: 6416659
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for the hydrodesulfurization of a diesel boiling range petroleum fraction which comprises:(a) feeding a diesel boiling range petroleum fraction to a distillation column reactor containing a bed of hydrodesulfurization catalyst at a point above said bed; (b) feeding hydrogen to said distillation column reactor at a point below said bed; (c) concurrently in said distillation column reactor (1) distilling said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction whereby there are vaporous petroleum products rising upward through said distillation column reactor, an internal reflux of liquid flowing downward in said distillation column reactor and condensing products within said distillation column reactor, and (2) contacting said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction and said hydrogen in the presence of a hydrodesulfurization catalytic distillation structure at a total pressure of less than about 300 psig, hydrogen partial pressure in the range of 0.1 to less than 100 psi and a temperature in the range of 400Â° to 800Â° F. whereby a portion of the organic sulfur compounds contained in said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction react with hydrogen to form H2S; (d) withdrawing a first overheads from said distillation column reactor comprising a first amount of said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction and containing said H2S; (e) withdrawing a first bottoms product comprising a second amount of said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction, said second amount being greater than said first amount and having a lower sulfur content than said diesel boiling range petroleum fraction; (f) feeding said first bottoms to a fractional distillation column wherein a second bottoms is removed, said second bottoms containing most of the unconverted sulfur; and (g) recovering a diesel boiling product material from said fractional distillation column as a second overheads, said second overheads being substantially lower in sulfur content that said first bottoms.