Patent ID: 7297253

Claim:
A process for desulfurizing a diesel boiling range hydrocarbon feedstock containing sulfur compounds comprising: (a) reacting a diesel boiling range hydrocarbon feedstock, oxygen and a recycle stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons and trace quantities of organic hydroperoxide to produce a stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons, sulfones and an increased concentration of organic hydroperoxides; (b) recycling at least a portion of the stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons, sulfones and organic hydroperoxides to step (a); (c) recovering a stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons, sulfones and organic hydroperoxides; (d) reacting the stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons, sulfones and organic hydroperoxides in the presence of an organic sulfur oxidation catalyst to produce a stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons and sulfone compounds; and (e) separating the stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons and sulfones to produce a stream comprising diesel boiling range hydrocarbons having a reduced sulfur concentration and a stream comprising sulfones.