Patent ID: 7985332

Claim:
A process for removing sulfur from heavy oil feedstreams containing sulfur-containing molecules, which process comprises: a) heating and pressurizing said heavy oil feedstream to a temperature of about 400° F. (204° C.) to about 800° F. (426° C.) and a pressure of about 200 psig to about 700 psig; b) passing said heated and pressurized heavy oil feedstream and an effective amount of a hydrogen source to the cathode side of a desulfurization electrochemical cell containing at least one cathode side and at least one anode side separated by an ion-permeable membrane and subjecting the heavy oil feedstream to a voltage in the range of about 4V to about 500V and a current density of about 10 mA/cm 2 to about 1000 mA/cm 2 , thereby reducing at least a portion of the sulfur-containing molecules to hydrogen sulfide and resulting in a sulfur-lean heavy oil feedstream and hydrogen sulfide; c) separating said hydrogen sulfide from said sulfur-lean heavy oil feedstream in a gas/liquid separation zone; and d) introducing at least a portion of said hydrogen sulfide into the anode side of said desulfurization electrochemical cell wherein it is oxidized to produce elemental sulfur and hydrogen ions, and at least a portion of the hydrogen ions migrate to the cathode side of said desulfurization electrochemical cell.