Oxidative Desulfurization of Non-hydrotreated Kerosene Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Acetic Acid

The oxidative desulfurization of a real refinery feedstock (i.e., non-hydrotreated kerosene with total sulfur mass content of 0.16%) with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid was studied. The influences of various operating parameters including reaction temperature (T), acid to sulfur molar ratio (nacid/nS), and oxidant to sulfur molar ratio (nO/nS) on the sulfur removal of kerosene were investigated. The results revealed that an increase in the reaction temperature (T) and nacid/nS enhances the sulfur removal. Moreover, there is an optimum nO/nS related to the reaction temperature and the best sulfur removal could be obtained at nO/nS8 and 23 for the reaction temperatures of 25 and 60(C, respectively. The maximum observed sulfur removal in the present oxidative desulfurization system was 83.3%.