Caustic free liquid/liquid process for sweeting a sour hydrocarbon fraction

摘要

This invention relates to a liquid-liquid process for treating a sour hydrocarbon fraction. The process comprises contacting the hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of an oxidizing agent with an aqueous solution containing ammonium hydroxide, a metal chelate and an onium compound selected from the group consisting of quaternary ammonium, phosphonium, arsonium, stibonium, oxonium and sulfonium compounds. A preferred onium compound is a quaternary ammonium compound with an especially preferred compound being a quaternary ammonium halide.