Synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity of cobalt phthalocyanine dichloride in sweetening of heavier petroleum fractions

Cobalt phthalocyanine dichloride was synthesized by reacting cobalt phthalocyanine with thionyl chloride at about 78–79 °C with reflux for 4–5 h followed by drowning in ice or ice–water mixture and filtration. It was characterized by elemental, IR and FAB mass spectral analysis. The activity of cobalt phthalocyanine dichloride as catalyst for sweetening of kerosene was evaluated by using tertiary dodecyl thiol as model mercaptan sulphur compound in a continuous bench scale unit. The stability of catalyst was compared with commercial catalyst mixing different thiols (C8, C10, nC12 and tC12) in kerosene representing industrial feed in the same unit under same operating conditions. The activity of this catalyst was found better than that of commercial catalyst whereas the stability was found equivalent.

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► Fixed bed sweetening of kerosene to convert mercaptans to disulphides in the presence of a catalyst.
► Synthesis of cobalt phthalocyanine dichloride catalyst by reacting cobalt phthalocyanine with thionyl chloride.
► Characterization of cobalt phthalocyanine dichloride catalyst by elemental, IR and FAB mass spectral analysis.
► Activity was found better than that of commercial catalyst whereas stability was equivalent.