Peroxide Oxidative Desulfurization of Crude Petroleum

Abstract

The oxidative desulfurization of crude petroleum from the Maiorskoe field (Orenburg oblast, Russia) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of organic and inorganic acids has been studied. A procedure for the recovery of oxidized sulfur-containing compounds from the petroleum by extracting the oxidation products with polar solvents (N,N-dimethylformamide, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, or methanol) or thermal decomposition of oxidized sulfur compounds has been selected. As a result of the oxidative desulfurization, up to 80% total sulfur is recovered from the petroleum, with the change in the physicochemical characteristics of the petroleum being insignificant.