Extraction of Mercaptans from Light Hydrocarbon Mixtures with Aqueous Ammonia

Results of laboratory studies of the extraction of light mercaptans (methyl, ethyl, and propyl mercaptans) from hydrocarbons mixtures with a 25% aqueous solution of ammonia (caustic ammonia) are presented and discussed. It is shown that aqueous ammonia can in principle be used for controlled demercaptanization of light hydrocarbon fractions and liquefied hydrocarbon gases containing hydrogen sulfide and lower mercaptans. The advantage of this demercaptanization method over the conventional processes of alkali treatment is that there is no stage of oxidative catalytic regeneration of a spent alkali and there are no its highly toxic wastes, sulfurousalkaline waste waters. The regeneration of a spent (saturated with sulfurous compounds) aqueous ammonia can be comparatively easily performed by its heating (boiling), which leads to a hydrolytic decomposition of ammonium sulfides and mercaptides to release their constituent gases: hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, and ammonia. Ammonia is recycled into the process as freshly prepared (regenerated) caustic ammonia.