Application: NAPFINING / MERICAT II / AQUAFINING systems eliminate naphthenic acids and mercaptans from kerosine to meet acid number and mercaptan jet fuel specifications. Caustic, air and catalyst are used along with FIBER-FILM Contactor technology and an upflow catalyst impregnated carbon bed saturated with caustic.
Description: In the NAPFINING system, the caustic phase flows along the fibers of the FIBER-FILM Contactor as it preferentially wets the fibers. The kerosine phase simultaneously flows through the caustic-wetted fibers where naphthenic acids react with the caustic phase to form sodium naphthenate. The two phases disengage and the naphthenic acid-free kerosine flows to the MERICAT II where the mercaptans react with caustic, air, and catalyst in the FIBER-FILM Contactor to form disulfides. The two phases disengage again and the kerosine flows upwards through a catalyst impregnated carbon bed where the remaining heavy mercaptans are converted to disulfides.
An AQUAFINING system is then used to water wash the kerosine downstream of the MERICAT II vessel to remove sodium. Salt driers and clay filters are used downstream of the water wash to remove water, surfactants and particulates to ensure a completely clean product.
Competitive advantages: FIBER-FILM Contactor technology requires smaller processing vessels thus saving valuable plant space and reducing capital expenditure. Onstream factor is 100% whereas electrostatic precipitators and downflow fixed-bed reactors onstream factors are unpredictable.
Licensor: Merichem Chemicals & Refinery Services LLC, Process Technology Division.
