Sulfur dioxide petroleum refining

Over the years, larger quantities of sulfur have been recovered for a number of reasons. These iaclude iacreased petroleum refining and natural-gas processiag, more stringent limitations on sulfur dioxide emissions, and higher sulfur contents of the cmde oil refined. Another contributiag factor is the lower sulfur content limits set on petroleum-based fuels. 

Petroleum refining also produces substantial amounts of carbon dioxide, which with hydrogen sulfide, corrode refining equipment, harm catalysts, pollute the atmosphere, and prevent the use of hydrocarbon components in petrochemical manufacture. When the amount of hydrogen sulfide is high, it may be removed from a gas stream and converted to sulfur or sulfuric acid. Some natural gases contain sufficient carbon dioxide to warrant recovery as dry ice. 

Sulfur dioxide is released during these operations when either coal or oil is burned. Coal and oil both naturally contain compounds of sulfur that, when burned, produce sulfur dioxide. The sulfur content of both coal and oil ranges from less than 1 percent to more than 7 percent, although refined petroleum tends to have lower concentrations of sulfur than do most forms of coal. Natural gas, by... 

Use of conventional treating processes was the logical starting point for improving thermal stability since refiners already have these facilities. One of the first treating processes considered was sulfur dioxide treatment, although current capacity would possibly be insufficient in an all-out war. In tests carried out at one petroleum laboratory, a JP-5 fuel stability was increased twofold Untreated fuel had a stability rating of 57 minutes. After sulfur dioxide extraction, the time was increased to 119 minutes. However, for all intent and purpose, this is not considered to offer any benefits since the test defines acceptable stability as 300 minutes... 

Techniques for purification of acid gas streams by removal of H2S, COS and carbon dioxide are standard technology. Recovery of elemental sulfur from these acid gas streams by use of Claus or Stretford units is also conventional technology. These technologies are being practiced on a large scale by both petroleum refiners and natural gas processors. 

Edeleanu process a process for refining oils at low temperature with liquid sulfur dioxide (S02), or with liquid sulfur dioxide and benzene applicable to the recovery of aromatic concentrates from naphthas and heavier petroleum distillates. 

Sulfur dioxide is used for refrigeration and also serves as raw material for the production of sulfuric acid. It is also used as a bleaching agent in the textile and food industries. It is an effective disinfectant and is employed as such for wooden kegs and barrels and brewery apparatus and for the prevention of mold in the drying of fruits. Sulfur dioxide efficiently controls fermentation in the making of wine. It is used in the sulfite process for paper pulp, as a liquid solvent in petroleum refining, and as a raw material in many plants in place of sulfites, bisulfites, or hydrosulfites. 

Although sulfur is the common starting raw material, other sources of sulfur dioxide can be used, including iron, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc sulfides. Hydrogen sulfide, a by-product of petroleum refining and natural... 

VijTThen control of sulfur emission became an urgent concern of refin-eries and other plants operating on hydrocarbon feeds, a host of processes were developed on paper (I). The past 2 yrs have seen a shakedown and thinning of these processes. Of the more than 60 originally proposed, only about half a dozen have been developed commercially. This paper concerns itself with two of those commercially proved processes developed by the French Petroleum Institute (2, 3) one for taking emissions down to about 1500 ppm sulfur dioxide after incineration and the other for reducing sulfur dioxide to one tenth that level. At this time 19 IFP-1500 plants are licensed as are four of the IFP-150 plants. 

Fifty years ago the world production of liquid sulfur dioxide was less than 1,00,000 tonnes. Over the past 5 decades the use of sulfur dioxide in petroleum refining as solvent, in the manufacture of paper pulp, in textiles as sulfites, bisulfites, and hydrosulfites, in effective control of fermentation in wine making, and as preservative for fresh fruits and vegetable has increased the demand many fold. 

Most of the sulfur currently used is burnt to form sulfur dioxide for the use in the pulp and paper industry, for bleaching, and for conversion to sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid is generally considered to be the most important manufactured chemical. Compormds of sulfur have many commercial uses, for example, in the manufacture of chemicals, textiles, soaps, fertilizers, leather, plastics, refrigerants, bleaching agents, drugs, dyes, paints, paper, refined petroleum, and other products. 

Edeleanu Process. The first commercially successful application of extraction of petroleum-refining processes was established by Edeleanu (38, 39), who extracted aromatic hydrocarbons from kerosenes with liquid sulfur dioxide to improve their burning qualities. The solvent is extremely selective for this purpose and acts without chemical reaction. 

Sulfur dioxide Gas Brewers, copper smelters, ore roasters, petroleum refiners, glassmakers, powerplant operators, paper makers... 

On the industrial scene, the most prominent applications both in scale and number are seen in the petroleum industry. Liquid extraction is used here to separate petroleum fractions selectively and to purify or otherwise refine them. In the Edeleanu process, which is close to a century old, liquid sulfur dioxide is used to extract aromatics from various feedstocks. The removal of the ever-present sulfur compounds is accomplished by extraction with sodium hydroxide solutions. In addition, a wide range of organic solvents is used in the purification and refining of various lubricants. 

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