Q & A > Question Details
Can there be RSH recombination in Kerosene Hydrotreaters operating at 360 deg C temperature at EOR and targeting 8 wppm Sulfur in final product? The feed is SR kerosene.
 
Answers
06/07/2017 A: Ganesh Maturu, Self, maturu.ganesh@gmail.com
If kero feed is straight run, there will not be any olefins in feed. However there is a possibility of cracking during hydrotreatment and recombination may happen and produce RSH. However possibility of RSH is during EOR and rare.
04/07/2017 A: Eric Vetters, ProCorr Consulting Services, ewvetters@yahoo.com
I would certainly think mercaptan recombination to be possible in a kero hydrotreater operating at that temperature. In naphtha hydrotreaters my recollection is that mercaptan recombinination becomes a problem above 343 C, so I would expect something similar on Kero. In NHT's you are trying to get sulfur well below 1 ppm so any recombination is likely going to cause a problem. I don't know if it will happen enough in a KHT to cause problems making 8 ppm S or not.
04/07/2017 A: NS Murthy, Suez, murthy.ns.ext@suez.com
Recombination takes place between olefins and H2S to form RSH in finished product. It happens in hot spots with reactor where hydrogen is insufficient at EOR conditions. Ask cat vendor for such potential in your unit.
04/07/2017 A: Ralph Ragsdale, Ragsdale Refining Courses, ralph.ragsdale@att.net
The problem usually starts occurring at approx. 400 C.