The Conversion Extraction Desulfurization Process: A Technology Update

摘要

In 1996 Petro Star Inc. began a research program to develop a method for the removal of sulfur from their refineries diesel fuel streams. Driven by the high cost of existing technology (hydrodesulfurization -HDS) for small refineries, we developed the Conversion Extraction Desulfurization (CED) process. In papers published over the last two years, we described the selective oxidation of organo-sulfur compounds in a diesel fuel matrix using peroxyacetic acid, extraction of sulfone/sulfoxide compounds using DMSO, and raffinate polishing with several solid phase adsorbents (1, 2, 3). In the last year we progressed in our design and optimization of extraction solvent to produce a process that efficiently and selectively removes organo-sulfur compounds from diesel fuel yielding a diesel raffinate with sulfur concen- trations as low as 5- O ppmw.