A new process approach for ultra-low sulfur fuel

CARBON-BASED CoMo catalyst was synthesized and investigated for adsorption of the sulfur containing compounds as well as hydrodesulfurization of the straight run gas oil. The catalyst is effective on extracting selectively most of the sulfur containing compounds and nitrogen containing compounds as well. The adsorption was performed at ambient temperature and under atmospheric pressure. Although, the catalyst showed a high affinity on adsorbing the most refractory sulfur containing compounds from the gas oil, it exhibited no tendency on adsorbing benzothiophene and like species. A new process that uses the bi-functionality advantages of the catalyst being both active adsorbent and catalyst is proposed. A reactor with multiple bed sections is essentially required to achieve ultra low sulfur over the present dual functional catalyst. Treatment of the gas oil by adsorption followed by hydrodesulfurization under moderate practical conditions reduced substantially the sulfur content as low as ̃<1 ppm. The process has the advantage of maintaining the quality of the fuel as it may operate under non-severe practical conditions.