Anil R. Oroskar

Oxidative desulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels

A process and apparatus for the desulfurization of hydrocarbon fuels is presented. The apparatus and process use an inorganic metal peroxide and catalyst to oxidize the sulfur compounds. The oxidized sulfur compounds are then adsorbed on an adsorbent.New requirements for very low sulfur content (10 ppm) in liquid motor fuels demand novel approaches for ultra-deep desulfurization. For production of near-zero-sulfur diesel and low-sulfur fuel oil, removal of refractory sulfur compounds, like 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene and other alkyl-substituted thiophene derivatives, is necessary. Elimination of these compounds by hydrodesulfurization (HDS) requires high hydrogen consumption, high pressure equipment, and new catalysts. Various oxidative desulfurization processes, including recent advances in this field for diesel fuels, and the drawbacks of this technology in comparison with HDS are examined and discussed. It is shown that the oxidation of sulfur compounds to sulfones with hydrogen peroxide allows for production of diesel fuels with a sulfur content of 10 ppmw or lower at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The gas phase oxidative desulfurization of sulfur compounds with air or oxygen is feasible at atmospheric pressure and higher temperatures: 90–300 °С and offers better economic solutions and incentives.

Novel tools to speed up the technology commercialization process

Abstract As a leading technology supplier, UOP LLC is under continuous pressure to renew its technology portfolio, to stay abreast of the competition and to help customers comply with the latest in environmental legislation. In this context we have developed a suite of tools, consisting of both hardware and software, to enhance and speed up our technology commercialization capability. These tools have been implemented all along the technology development path and seamlessly communicate through the use of flowsheets as energy carriers. The current paper will attempt to give an overview of the advanced chemistry and chemical engineering tools that are enabling UOP today. Where applicable, we will give a measure of the intensification achieved and the pros and cons of the various techniques.

Intensification in Microstructured Unit Operations Performance Comparison Between Mega and Micro Scale

Process intensification refers to technologies and strategies that enable the physical sizes of conventional unit operations to be significantly reduced. The concept was pioneered by ICI in the late 1970s, when the primary goal was to reduce the capital cost of a production system. The motivation behind this approach was the recognition that the main plant items involved in the process (i.e. reactors, heat exchangers, separators etc.) only contribute to around 20% of the cost of a given plant. The balance is incurred by installation costs that involve pipe-work, structural support, civil engineering and so on. A major reduction of equipment size, coupled preferably with a degree of “telescoping” of equipment function — for example reactor/heat exchangers or combined condenser/distillation/re-boilers — could generate very significant cost savings by eliminating support structure, expensive column foundations and long pipe runs. Process intensification has the potential to deliver major benefits to the process industry, and many other sectors, by accelerating the response to market changes, facilitating scale-up and providing the basis for rapid development of new products and processes.