Patent ID: 6402940
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
A process for removing sulfur compounds from hydrocarbon fuels, comprising the steps of:contacting the sulfur containing fuel with an aqueous oxidizing solution comprising hydrogen peroxide, and formic acid in a mole ratio of at least about 11:1 formic acid to hydrogen peroxide and having less than about 25 wt % water, in an amount such that the hydrogen peroxide present is greater than about two times the stoichiometric amount required to convert the sulfur compounds present to corresponding sulfones, at a temperature of from about 50Â° C. to about 130Â° C. to form a hydrocarbon fuel phase from which sulfur has been removed and an aqueous phase containing oxidized sulfur extracted from the hydrocarbon fuel phase; separating the aqueous phase containing the extracted sulfur compounds from the hydrocarbon fuel phase; and recovering the hydrocarbon phase containing the fuel having reduced sulfur content.