Scribd
Upload
2 views

Sweetening-process

The document discusses various processes for the removal of mercaptans and other sulfur compounds from petroleum products, highlighting methods such as caustic treatment, Solutizer process, and Merox extraction. Each process has its advantages and disadvantages, including impacts on product quality and operational efficiency. The document emphasizes the importance of these treatments in improving the odor, stability, and overall performance of petroleum products.

Uploaded by

nishthakalpesh23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

Sweetening-process

The document discusses various processes for the removal of mercaptans and other sulfur compounds from petroleum products, highlighting methods such as caustic treatment, Solutizer process, and Merox extraction. Each process has its advantages and disadvantages, including impacts on product quality and operational efficiency. The document emphasizes the importance of these treatments in improving the odor, stability, and overall performance of petroleum products.

Uploaded by

nishthakalpesh23
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 15

Contents

 Introduction
Caustic treatment
 Solutizer process
 Doctor treating process
 Copper chloride sweetening
 Merox process
 Sulphuric acid treatment
 Clay treatment
Introduction
 Alkyl and aromatic Mercaptans are among important
sulphuric compounds distributed in petroleum
products.

 These Mercaptans cause foul odour and are corrosive


towards metals.

 Mercaptans may cause oxidative deterioration as well as


inhibit the performance of various aditives in finished
products.

 It is necessary to remove them ,either by extraction


processes or by converting them into harmless
disulphides.
Commercially viable processes
• The processes which remove mercaptans but do not
affect materially other sulphur compounds include
caustic scrubbing, Merox extraction, Solutizer ,
1 Atlantic Unisol.

• The processes which convert mercaptans to


disulphides include Doctor sweetening, PbS
sweetening, Merox sweetening, Copper chloride
2 sweetening, inhibitor sweetening.
• The processes which remove some or all of the
different types of sulphur compounds include acid
treating, clay treating , sodafining , catalytic
processes. Acid treating and clay treating also
3 removes gums, these are also used for cracked
gasoline stocks.
Caustic treatment
 Caustic treatment of petroleum products is as old as the industry
itself.

 Hydrogen sulphide in low concentration, napthenic acids , aryl


mercaptans , alkyl phenol are normally removed by a non-
regenerative caustic treatment.

 Naphthenic acids or alkyl phenols are removed by simple one


stage caustic wash in a mixer/settler unit, because of their effects
on some sweetening catalysts.

 Recovery of the acids for by product sale is a common practice.


Solutizer process
• Caustic washing removes some of the lighter mercaptans, to remove
the heavier ones solutizer process is used.

• This process utilizes suitable organic solvents or salt in the aqueous


phase with improved solubility of mercaptans.

• The solutizer process can treat most cracked or straight-run napthas to


a doctor sweet product below 0.0003 percent mercaptans.

• Octane number and susceptibility show a slight improvement.

• Mercaptan removal gives this process a big advantage on high


mercaptan content stocks.
Doctor treating process
• This process was the first treating process to be employed
commercially for conversion of mercaptans.

• The operation can be either batch or continuous , regenerative or


non- regenerative.

• Sour naptha is mixed with the doctor solution, this doctor solution
reacts with mercaptans to form lead mercaptides.

• A stream of lead mercaptides is mixed with the stream of the


naptha containing dissolved sulphur. On reacting it gives disulphides
and lead sulphides.

• As a disadvantage of this process is the formation of polysulphide


which increases the corrosion and reduce the thermal stability.
PbO + 2 NaOH Na2PbO2 + H2O
Sodium
plumbite

2RSH + Na2PbO2 (RS)2Pb + 2 NaOH


Alkyl
mercaptan

(RS)2Pb + S R2S2 + PbS

PbS + 2 NaOH + ½ O2 Na2PbO2 + S +


H2O
Copper chloride sweetening
• This process is used for sweetening of gasolines and kerosines
by the direct oxidation of mercaptans to disulphides, using
cupric chloride as the oxidizing agent.

• There is a net production of water which must be removed


continuously to maintain correct reaction conditions.

• There are many advantages of this process like:-


a. no loss in octane number.

b. Product is more responsive.

c. Good thermal stabilities


Merox process
• This is an efficient and economical catalytic process
developed for the chemical treatment of petroleum distillates
to remove mercaptans.

• This process is based on the ability of a catalyst to catalyze


the oxidation of mercaptans to disulphides in alkaline
medium at ambient temperature using air as the source of
oxygen.

• It is used for liquid-phase treating of LPG, napthas , kerosines,


jet fuels , diesel fuels and heating oils.

2RSH + ½ O2 RSSR + H2O


MEROX EXTRACTION &
SWEETENING
• The merox extraction process are used to extract low molecular
weight mercaptans from gases , LPG and light napthas fractions.

• This reduces the total sulphur content in the finished product.

• The merox sweetening process is achieved by blowing


caustic/hydrocarbon mixture with the air in the presence of merox
catalyst.

• Mercaptans are oxidized into disulphides which remain dissolved in


the product. There is no reduction in the total sulphur content of
the finished product.
Extracted Excess air
product

D Disulphide
E I
S oil
X O U
L
T X P
H
R I I
D
A D E

C I S
E
T Z P
E
feed I E R
A
O R T
O
N R

air
Merox
Caustic
Solution

Figure :- Merox extraction process


Sulphuric acid treatment
• One of the oldest processes udes for the removal of sulphur ,
aromatics , olefins. is the sulphuric acids treatment .

• This treatment is usually applied to light petroleum distillates.

• The process is applicable to the pretreatment of straight-run


napthas that are to be reformed and for the removal of
thiophene from aromatic streams.

• But two major drawbakcs of this process are appreciable


material loss resulting from the formation of acid
sludge and the problem of sludge disposal.
Clay treatment
• This treatment is generally applied for removal of olefins and di-
olefins from cracked gas/liquid streams.

• This process improves colour ,odour , and oxidation stability of the


lubricating oil base stocks and waxes.

• The feed enters at the top of the tower and the treated product
leaves from the bottom. While treating lubricating oils and waxes ,the
slurry of oil and clay is heated at about 120-150 oC.

• The clay used in the process is generally activated.


Thanks

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy