Title:
BIODESULFURIZATION OF HYDROCARBONS
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2003042331
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A process for converting organic sulfur compounds contained in liquid hydrocarbons to elemental sulfur. The liquid hydrocarbons are solubilized in an organic solvent and reacted in the presence of a biocatalyst and hydrogen. The organic solvent is a nucleophilic solvent having a pKa greater than about 2, an electrophilic solvent having a pKa more negative than about -2, or mixtures thereof. The biocatalyst may be supported on a Lewis acid. Elemental sulfur is removed from the liquid hydrocarbons. Liquid hydrocarbons treated in accordance with this process have significantly reduced concentrations of organic sulfur compounds and thus reduced viscosity.
Inventors:
PLUMMER MARK A
Application Number:
PCT/US2002/036160
Publication Date:
July 24, 2003
Filing Date:
November 12, 2002
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MARATHON OIL CO (US)
International Classes:
C10G45/04; (IPC1-7): C10G32/00
Foreign References:
| US5458752A | 1995-10-17 | |||
| US6071738A | 2000-06-06 |
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