Process Flow Diagram
Catalyst
* Activated charcoal support impregnated with Cobalt catalyst.
* A small amount of liquid catalyst activator is continuously injected into the hydrocarbon stream to wash the surface of the catalyst and maintain its activity.
Process Variables
Oxygen Injection:
* Increasing the air improves the sweetening up to a Increasing the air improves the sweetening up to a certain point.
* However, the air injected must be completely dissolved in the hydrocarbon. Otherwise a separate air phase will exist within the fixed bed, which may lead to channeling.
Alkalinity :
* Alkalinity is provided by ammonia, either aqueous or anhydrous. It is injected into the feed hydrocarbonanhydrous. It is injected into the feed hydrocarbon stream upstream of the reactor to provide the alkalinity necessary for the sweetening reaction.
* It will also neutralize any naphthenic acids inthefeed. Ammonia injection is usually controlled at 40-50 wppm
ammonia based on the feed rate.
Temperature:
* The reactor temperature should be controlled between 38-50 C.38-50 C.
*The higher the temperature in this range, the faster the reaction.
* Increasing the temperature can also have the undesired side effect increasing the oxidation reactions which can discolor the product.
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