Removal of Hydrogen Sulfide from Diesel

Organic sulfur compounds are an integral component of crude oil. They do not disappear during the refining process even in case of thermal influence and can remain in petroleum products in various concentrations.

Sulfur can be present in fuel in the form of the following compounds: hydrogen sulphide, elemental sulfur, mercaptans, sulfides, disulfides, thiophene, thiophane and others. The presence of these chemical elements is extremely undesirable. This is due to a very unpleasant smell, which they give to the commercial petroleum products. Furthermore, sulfur compounds facilitate corrosion of equipment, and when burned with fuel they pollute the atmosphere. In all the developed countries sulfur emissions into the environment are subject to a strict control by the relevant environmental services. Table 1 shows the norms of total sulfur content in diesel fuel, which are effective on the territory of the European Union.

Table 1

Norms of total sulfur content in diesel fuel, effective on the territory of the European Union, mg/kg

The sulfur content in the oil refining process is mainly controlled through hydrotreating. But the higher the standards for the product in the part of the sulfur content are, the greater the need for modern hydrotreating catalysts is. Accordingly, costs on the production of low-sulfur petroleum products increase.

Experts call oxidative desulfurization one of the promising methods of purification. Potentially, this approach can give large savings, which is achieved by replacement of hydrogen with cheaper oxidants, such as: hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, various organic peroxides and others. In general, it is not necessary to create special conditions for the technical implementation of oxidative desulfurization. It can take place at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which also reduces the overall cost of the process.

But what happens when a consumer receives a large batch of diesel fuel, for instance, with a high content of hydrogen sulfide? It is obvious that the only way out of this situation is purification of oil from harmful contaminants before use.

GlobeCore is one of the leading manufacturers and suppliers of equipment for purification and regeneration of various petroleum products: diesel fuel, mineral oil, furnace oil, gas condensate, gasoline, and others. In this regard, the UVR unit is the perfect solution to the problem of removing hydrogen sulfide from diesel fuel.

This equipment is able to purify and clarify diesel fuel, and deliver it from extrinsic aromatics by removing hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds. In addition to that, the UVR unit can purify diesel fuel from water, solids and reduce the paraffin content. Oil products, after processing with the GlobeCore equipment, do not oxidize or darken.

An important feature of the UVR unit is its mobility: the equipment can be easily loaded onto light vehicles, and delivered to the place of storage of diesel fuel requiring purification, clarification and removal of extrinsic aromatics.

The use of the GlobeCore technology can protect the engine and fuel system of a car from damage caused by various contaminants containing in diesel fuel, as well as significantly reduce the amount of sulfur emissions into the atmosphere.