Patent ID: 7223332

Claim:
An apparatus for the conversion of mercaptans comprising: a reactor vessel comprising: a first end and a second end; at least one inlet for delivering a feed including hydrocarbons containing mercaptans, oxygen and aqueous alkaline solution to said reactor vessel; a first end defining a reaction section and a second end of said reactor vessel defining a separation section and a fluid permeable shield extending across an entire lateral cross section of said reactor vessel, said shield for supporting a solid catalyst thereabove, a first side of said fluid permeable shield partially defining said reaction section and a second side of said fluid permeable shield partially defining said separation section; a hydrocarbon outlet for withdrawing a sweetened hydrocarbon stream from said separation section, said hydrocarbon outlet being positioned between said fluid permeable shield and said second end of said reactor vessel; and an aqueous alkaline outlet for withdrawing predominantly aqueous alkaline solution from said reactor vessel, said aqueous alkaline outlet being positioned closer to said second end than said hydrocarbon outlet; an outlet conduit in communication with said hydrocarbon outlet; and a residual alkaline removal unit in communication with said outlet conduit.