Crude petroleum or hydrocarbons of petroleum origin containing vanadium and/or sodium are refined by contacting with fuller's earth, in the presence of hydrogen, under such conditions of temperature and pressure that the vanadium and/or sodium is deposited on the fuller's earth. The preferred refining conditions are a temperature of 750-800 DEG F., a pressure of 500-1500 p.s.i.ga., a space velocity of 0.5-2.0 v./v./hr. and a hydrogen recycle rate of 1000-10,000 S.C.F./B. The refined product may be passed to a catalytic hydrogenation process for the removal of organically combined sulphur. Thus, crude petroleum or a petroleum residue may be refined according to the process of the invention and then hydrofined using a catalyst consisting of cobalt and molybdenum oxides supported on alumina. In an example, a petroleum residue is refined by contact with pelleted fuller's earth in presence of hydrogen, the refined product having reduced sodium, vanadium and sulphur content. Specification 729,301 is referred to.
展开▼
