| abstract |
A process for reducing the sulfur content of sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material by oxidizing at least a portion of the sulfur in the sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material with an oxidant in the presence of certain catalysts, for example, a molybdenum-containing catalyst. The oxidized sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material is further processed by means of a sulfur reducing step to remove sulfur from the hydrocarbon material. A hydrocarbon material having reduced sulfur content is thereafter recovered. The preferred oxidant is tertiary butyl hydroperoxide and the oxidation may occur in the presence of a solvent, preferably tertiary butyl alcohol. The tertiary butyl alcohol, which is removed from the oxidized sulfur-containing hydrocarbon material, can be dehydrated to isobutylene and further dimerized to form diisobutylene. |