Removal of sodium and vanadium from petroleum hydrocarbons followed by catalytic desulphurisation of said petroleum hydrocarbons

摘要

A petroleum fuel containing vanadium and/or sodium, particularly crude petroleum or petroleum residue, is contacted with bauxite at elevated temperature and pressure to remove vanadium and/or sodium, and then subjected to hydrofining in the presence of a cobalt molybdate catalyst consisting of the oxides of cobalt and molybdenum, preferably on a support, e.g. alumina. The full inactivity of the catalyst is thus reduced. Preferably, the bauxite treatment is effected in two stages, first in the absence of hydrogen, when sodium is removed, and then with hydrogen to remove vanadium. A tower containing a single bed of bauxite may be used, recycled hydrogen being admitted at an intermediate point to give optimum removal. Conditions may be those used in hydrofining, viz. 700-850 DEG F. and 800-1,000 p.s.i.g. The spent bauxite may be used for a catalytic desulphurization, the finishing treatment of kerosines or for vanadium or sulphur recovery. Figures are given showing the loss of activity of hydrofining catalyst by impregnating with vanadium and sodium, and the increase in life effected by pretreatment with bauxite. Specifications 710,342 and 729,301 are referred to.