4 Merox Kero Jet

MeroxTM Process for Kerosene/Jet Fuel Sweetening
Refining
Refining
Introduction Kerosene product leaving the water wash is directed to
The Merox process for kerosene/jet fuel sweetening is a salt filter containing a simple bed of coarse rock salt
one of the family of Merox process applications devel- that is used to remove free water and a portion of the
oped for control of mercaptans (thiols) in hydocarbon dissolved water from the product. This will protect the
streams. The conventional version of this process uses a water sensitive clay from premature failure.
fixed-bed catalyst, air, and caustic (NaOH) to sweeten To assure that jet fuel product specifications such as
kerosene feedstocks. Pre- and post-treatment sections thermal stability, microseparometer, and water reaction,
are included to ensure that other jet fuel specifications will be met, a product clay filter is included. The clay
are met. filter removes oil soluble surfactants, organometallic
compounds (especially copper which may have been
Chemistry present in the kerosene feed), and particulate matter,
Merox sweetening involves the catalytic oxidation of which would jeopardize jet fuel product specifications.
mercaptans to disulfides in the presence of oxygen
and alkalinity. Air provides the oxygen, and caustic Merox Process for Kerosene/Jet Fuel Sweetening
provides the alkalinity. The disulfides formed remain
Merox Caustic Water Salt Clay
in the treated hydrocarbon stream. The sweetening Prewash Reactor Settler Wash Filter Filter
reaction is shown below:
4 RSH + O2 2 RSSR + 2 H2O

Kerosene/
Merox catalyst accelerates the reaction rate to permit Jet Fuel
Sweetened
Kerosene/
economical treating at normal refinery product rundown Jet Fuel
temperatures.
Process Flow Description

Prior to flowing to the reactor, the chargestock is passed Dilute Air
Legend
Caustic
through a caustic prewash in order to reduce the naph- = Intermittent Use
thenic acids present in the kerosene feed.
The reactor section of the kerosene/jet fuel Merox unit Benefits

consists of a fixed-bed reactor followed by a caustic
settler. Air, the source of oxygen, is injected into the Low Capital Investment
feedstock upstream of the reactor. The mixture enters The non-corrosive environment, near ambient operating
the top of the reactor and percolates downward through temperature and low design pressure allow for carbon
the catalyst bed. The operating pressure is chosen to steel construction throughout. In comparison, the cost of
assure that the air required for sweetening will be a hydrotreating unit for producing jet fuel would be many
completely dissolved at the operating temperature. The times the cost of a Merox unit.
sweetened kerosene exits the reactor and flows to the Low Operating cost
reactor caustic settler. The caustic settler contains a
Operating costs are very low. Catalyst, chemical, and
reservoir of caustic for use in keeping the Merox catalyst
utility costs are only a few U.S. cents per barrel of treated
alkaline. The caustic is periodically circulated over the
product. In contrast, the operating costs of a hydrotreat-
reactor bed, while maintaining operations.
ing unit can be $0.50 to $1.00 per barrel of product,
The kerosene leaving the caustic settler passes through depending on the price of hydrogen.
a water wash which removes trace quantities of caustic
as well as water soluble surfactants.
Merox Process for Kerosene/Jet Fuel Sweetening 2
Ease of Operation Catalyst

A kerosene/jet fuel sweetening Merox unit is easy to To ensure that catalyst of the highest quality is available,
operate. A wide range of feed rates and mercaptan UOP manufactures a family of highly active and selective
concentrations can be accommodated by adjusting catalysts for the fixed-bed sweetening Merox process.
prewash caustic rate, air injection, and periodic reactor
caustic circulation. Merox FBTM catalyst is used for in-situ impregnation of
the activated charcoal in the reactor. Alternatively, Merox
Feedstock Flexibility No. 8TM, pre-impregnated catalyst can be supplied.
Conventional fixed-bed sweetening Merox units Merox No.10 catalyst has been developed for sweetening
have successfully treated kerosene feedstocks extremely difficult to treat kerosenes. UOP also offers
from more than 100 crude sources. Merox PlusTM activator to significantly extend catalyst life
With the use of Merox 10™ catalyst, the Merox and provide additional catalytic activity when treating
process is able to sweeten all kerosene feeds more difficult feedstocks.
being processed world-wide.
For More Information
Product Quality
Merox technological services are available on request.
The Merox process reliably produces a sweetened
For more information, contact your local UOP
product meeting kerosene/jet fuel specifications.
representative or contact our Des Plaines sales office:
The jet fuel treated in a Merox unit is superior to
hydrotreated jet fuel in lubricity. e-mail: info@uop.com
fax: +1-847-391-2253
Experience phone: +1-847-391-2000
The Merox process is overwhelmingly the most widely
applied kerosene/jet fuel sweetening technology. More
than 200 kerosene/jet fuel sweetening Merox units,
having a total design capacity greater than 1,700,000
BPSD have been placed on stream.
UOP LLC
25 East Algonquin Road
© 2007 UOP LLC. All rights reserved.
Des Plaines, IL 60017-5017 The information in this document should not be construed as a representation for
which UOP assumes legal responsibility, or an authorization or recommendation
U.S.A. to practice a patented invention without a license.
www.uop.com UOP 4523-28 0507PTE0F

4 Merox Kero Jet

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

4 Merox Kero Jet

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

4 Merox Kero Jet

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

MeroxTM Process for Kerosene/Jet Fuel Sweetening

reaction is shown below:

4 RSH + O2 2 RSSR + 2 H2O

Process Flow Description

The reactor section of the kerosene/jet fuel Merox unit Benefits

Ease of Operation Catalyst

You might also like