Patent ID: 7300476

Claim:
A composition for fuel or blending component of fuels which are liquid at ambient conditions, the composition formed by a process which comprises: partitioning by distillation an organic feedstock comprising a mixture of organic compounds derived from natural petroleum, the mixture having a gravity ranging from 10° API to about 75° API to provide a first organic part consisting of a sulfur-lean, mono-aromatic-rich fraction, and a second organic part consisting of a sulfur-rich, mono-aromatic-lean fraction; contacting a gaseous source of dioxygen with at least a portion of the first organic part in a liquid reaction medium containing a soluble catalyst system comprising a source of at least one catalyst metal selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula M[RCOCH═C(O—)R′] n where M is one or more member of the group consisting of manganese, cobalt, nickel, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin and cerium, R and R′ are the same or different members selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom and alkyl, aryl, alkenyl and alkynyl groups having up to about 20 carbon atoms, n is 2 or 3, while maintaining the liquid reaction medium substantially free of halogen and/or halogen-containing compounds, to form a mixture of immiscible phases comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds, water of reaction, and acidic co-products; separating from the mixture of immiscible phases at least a first organic liquid comprising hydrocarbons, oxygenated organic compounds and acidic co-products and second liquid which contains at least portions of the catalyst metal, water of reaction and acidic co-products; and contacting all or a portion of the separated organic liquid with a neutralizing agent thereby recovering an oxygenated product.