Patent ID: 8821717

Claim:
A process for improving the quality of a hydrocarbon oil feedstock by removing undesirable sulfur and nitrogen compounds present in the feedstock, the process comprising: a. introducing the hydrocarbon oil feedstock consisting of hydrocarbon components boiling in the range of from 36° C. to 400° C. and containing undesirable sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds, including polynuclear aromatic compounds, into a mixing vessel with a solid adsorbent material having average particle size in the range of 74 microns to 149 microns, the adsorbent material being selected from the group consisting of attapulgus clay, silica alumina, alumina, silica, silica gel, activated carbon and zeolite catalyst materials; b. mixing the hydrocarbon oil feedstock with the adsorbent material to form a slurry; c. continuing to mix the slurry for a time sufficient to adsorb the sulfur- and nitrogen-containing compounds on the adsorbent material; and d. contacting the hydrocarbon oil and solid adsorbent mixture with a filtration membrane in a separation zone to separate an upgraded hydrocarbon oil product from the solid adsorbent and recovering a hydrocarbon oil product having a reduced sulfur and nitrogen compound content as the membrane permeate.