Patent ID: 7291259

Claim:
A process for removing aromatic organic sulfur compounds from a normally liquid hydrocarbon fuel or fuel component feedstock having a sulfur content of at least about 150 ppmw comprising the steps: contacting the feedstock in the substantial absence of a hydrodesulfurization catalyst, with a regenerable sorbent material comprising at least one active metal oxide sorbent capable of selectively removing sulfur compounds present in the hydrocarbon feedstock and a refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst capable of cracking cyclic organic sulfur compounds, wherein said refractory inorganic oxide cracking catalyst comprises zinc aluminate; recovering a hydrocarbon product having a sulfur content of about 50% or less than the sulfur content of the feedstock; regenerating at least a portion of said regenerable sorbent with an oxidizing gas under conditions sufficient to convert metal sulfide into said metal oxide sorbent and thereby provide regenerated sorbent, and recycling at least a portion of said regenerated sorbent to said contacting step without submitting said regenerated sorbent to a reduction step prior to reuse in said contacting step.