DESULFURIZATION OF HEAVY HYDROCARBONS AND CONVERSION OF RESULTING HYDROSULFIDES UTILIZING COPPER METAL

摘要

The present invention is a process for desulfurizing hydrocarbon feedstreamswith alkali metal compounds andregenerating the alkali metal compounds via the use of a copper metal reagent.The present invention employs the use of a coppermetal reagent to convert spent alkali metal hydrosulfides in the regenerationof the alkali hydroxide compounds for reutilization inthe desulfurization process for the hydrocarbon feedstreams. Additionally, inpreferred embodiments of the processes disclosedherein, carbonates which may be detrimental to the overall desulfurizationprocess and related equipment are removed from theregenerated alkali metal stream.