Studies on the Merox process: kinetics of N-butyl mercaptan oxidation

Abstract

The Merox process is industrially used to convert mercaptans from petroleum distillates to disulfides by oxidation with air in the presence of alkaline solution and a supported catalyst. The kinetics of n-butyl mercaptan oxidation was studied as a basis for understanding the Merox process. All kinetic experiments were carried out in a constant pressure reactor. The system involves four phases: the organic phase ( n-heptane) containing n-butyl mercaptan, the gas phase (air), the aqueous phase (sodium hydroxide for mercaptan extraction) and the catalyst. Kinetics was studied in the presence of the Merox catalyst alone and then in the presence of activated carbon alone. The information was then used to analyse kinetic experiments in which a supported catalyst was used.