Separation of nitrogenous type compounds from synthetic crudes

Abstract

An adsorbent has been tested to selectively remove nitrogenous compounds from synthetic crudes. The adsorbent is an ilmenite ore treated with liquid bromide. The bromination step forms titanium and iron bromides on the surface; these species are Lewis acids and are known to form complexes with nitrogenous compounds. Separation using this adsorbent is only partially successful. The results show that basic nitrogenous compounds are extensively retained on treated ilmenite while neutral compounds are not. Thus, the adsorption capacity is high for basic compounds but low for neutral compounds. A coker kerosene was used to test the adsorbent. Nitrogenous compounds were found in the effluent after only a few millilitres were fed into the column.