Desulfurization

See also: Raney nickel § Applications in organic synthesis

Desulfurization or desulphurisation is a chemical process for the removal of sulfur from a material. This involves either the removal of sulfur from a molecule (e.g. A=S → A:) or the removal of sulfur compounds from a mixture such as oil refinery streams.[1]

Chemical reaction: Thioacetal breaks into ethane, nickel sulfide and a hydrocarbon under the action of hydrogen and Raney nickel.
Example of desulfurization of thioacetals using Raney nickel

These processes are of great industrial and environmental importance as they provide the bulk of sulfur used in industry (Claus process and Contact process), sulfur-free compounds that could otherwise not be used in a great number of catalytic processes, and also reduce the release of harmful sulfur compounds into the environment, particularly sulfur dioxide (SO2) which leads to acid rain.

Processes used for desulfurization include hydrodesulfurization, the SNOX process and the wet sulfuric acid process (WSA process).

  1. ^ Babich, I (April 2003). "Science and technology of novel processes for deep desulfurization of oil refinery streams: a review". Fuel. 82 (6): 607–631. Bibcode:2003Fuel...82..607B. doi:10.1016/S0016-2361(02)00324-1.