Characteristics and Treatment of Wastewater from the Mercaptan Oxidation Process: A Comprehensive Review

Sulfur compounds are removed from petroleum by the addition of sodium hydroxide at a very high concentration. As a result, a residue called spent soda or spent caustic is generated, being extremely aggressive to the environment. In this work, the chemical properties of this residue are described in detail. The sodium hydroxide remains that have not reacted, sulfur compounds, and organic matter are the primary pollutants reported. Additionally, the main characteristics of the methods of treatment used to reduce them are described. This review comes from comprehensive and updated research and bibliographic analysis about the investigation on the topic. The advantages and disadvantages of the different treatment methods are highlighted. We established some criteria to set out when assessing the application of each one of these treatments is considered.

A planar binuclear cobalt(ii) phthalocyanine as a highly efficient catalyst for the oxidation of a mercaptan

A dramatic increase in the catalytic activity of cobalt(ii) phthalocyanines in the mercaptan oxidation can be achieved on going from mononuclear to planar binuclear complexes.

Synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide supported cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine as an efficient heterogeneous nanocatalyst for mercaptans oxidation from gasoline

In the present study, graphene oxide-supported cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine (CoTsPc-GO) was synthesized using the incipient wetness impregnation assisted [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] assembling method. Applications for this material were investigated for ethyl mercaptan, [Formula: see text]-propyl mercaptan and [Formula: see text]-butyl mercaptan oxidation from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline in a fixed bed reactor. The synthesized CoTsPc-GO catalysts were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA-DTA), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The effect of cobalt (II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine (CoTsPc) content (0–0.34 g), catalyst dosage (0.02–0.12 g) and temperature (30–40∘ C) on the performance of CoTsPc-GO catalysts were investigated during the Merox process. The stability and reusability of CoTsPc-GO catalyst for mercaptans oxidation were also tested. The obtained results revealed that the maximum mercaptan oxidation during the Merox process was obtained in CoTsPc-GO of 0.34 g, catalyst content of 0.1 g and a temperature of 40∘ C with ethyl mercaptan, [Formula: see text]-propyl mercaptan and [Formula: see text]-butyl mercaptan conversions of 99.9, 98.5 and 97.0%, respectively. The potential of CoTsPc-GO catalyst was investigated for further mercaptans oxidation. The results were compared to those obtained with an industrial impregnated active charcoal catalyst and a CoPc catalyst. The obtained results demonstrated the higher capability of CoTsPc-GO catalyst for mercaptans oxidation from FCC gasoline.