Merox

Merox is an acronym for <a href="/facts/Mercaptan/VemKEDP9">mercaptan</a> <a href="/facts/Oxidation/Pyd5RVcj">oxidation</a>. It is a <a href="/facts/Trade_secret/VgJ1cAz5">proprietary</a> <a href="/facts/Catalytic/LPBS7TQC">catalytic</a> chemical process developed by <a href="/facts/UOP_LLC/5tc4x9AT">UOP</a> used in <a href="/facts/Oil_refinery/yeaW0UMv">oil refineries</a> and <a href="/facts/Natural_gas_processing/8Xt3LdnQ">natural gas processing</a> plants to remove mercaptans from <a href="/facts/Liquefied_petroleum_gas/bw6trakm">LPG</a>, <a href="/facts/Propane/E0b23KGh">propane</a>, <a href="/facts/Butane/InIHpYlY">butanes</a>, light <a href="/facts/Naphtha/DpzLNMey">naphthas</a>, <a href="/facts/Kerosene/DoHPYXKp">kerosene</a>, and <a href="/facts/Jet_fuel/4CDswF3t">jet fuel</a> by converting them to liquid <a href="/facts/Hydrocarbon/Dcg95Ju5">hydrocarbon</a> <a href="/facts/Disulfides/eDx5Xtlg">disulfides</a>.
The Merox process requires an <a href="/facts/Alkaline/s6NqPGSP">alkaline</a> environment which, in some process versions, is provided by an aqueous solution of <a href="/facts/Sodium_hydroxide/xjtdYtq7">sodium hydroxide</a> (NaOH), a strong <a href="/facts/Base_(chemistry)/M9wA7qeM">base</a>, commonly referred to as <a href="/facts/Causticity/7LXjT1XE">caustic</a>. In other versions of the process, the alkalinity is provided by <a href="/facts/Ammonia/MtLtJFtz">ammonia</a>, which is a weak base.
The catalyst in some versions of the process is a water-soluble liquid. In other versions, the catalyst is impregnated into charcoal granules.
Processes within oil refineries or natural gas processing plants that remove mercaptans and/or <a href="/facts/Hydrogen_sulfide/UbCqjMMk">hydrogen sulfide</a> (H2S) are commonly referred to as sweetening processes because they result in products which no longer have the sour, foul odors of mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide. The liquid hydrocarbon disulfides may remain in the sweetened products. These may be used as part of the refinery or natural gas processing plant fuel, or they may be processed further.
When dealing with kerosene, the Merox process is usually more economical than using a catalytic <a href="/facts/Hydrodesulfurization/CTXmxBQu">hydrodesulfurization</a> process for much the same purpose. It is rarely (if ever) required to reduce the sulphur content of a straight-run kerosene to meet the 3000 <a href="/facts/Parts_per_million/PozRuoLM">ppm</a> sulphur specification of <a href="/facts/Jet_fuel/4CDswF3t">jet fuel</a>, because very few crude oils have a kerosene cut with a higher content of sulphur than this limit.

Merox open-in-new

Merox