Appeal 2007-2486
Application 10/429,369
We AFFIRM.
INTRODUCTION
Appellant claims a process for removing nitrogen and sulfur from
fossil fuel (claims 1 and 8). The process includes adding an oxidizing agent
to the fossil fuel and applying ultrasound to the fuel to oxidize the nitrogen
and sulfur in the fuel (claim 1, Specification 4, ¶ [0013]; 6, ¶ [0021]).
Conventional hydrodesulfurization is conducted on the ultrasound treated
fossil fuel to remove the remaining sulfur and nitrogen compounds in the
fuel (claim 1, Specification 7, ¶ [0023]).
Claims 1, 8, and 11 are illustrative:
1. A process for generating sulfones from sulfur-containing
compounds present in a fossil fuel and thereafter removing said sulfones
from said fossil fuel and removing nitrogen-containing compounds also
present in said fossil fuel, the process comprising the steps:
a) providing a liquid fossil fuel, said fossil fuel containing a
portion of at least one organic sulfur-containing compound;
b) adding an oxidizing agent to said fossil fuel provided in step
a) and subjecting said fossil fuel to an ultrasonic energy to concurrently
convert a majority of said sulfur-bearing compound to a sulfone and
effectuating the oxidation of said nitrogen-containing compounds; and
c) subjecting said fossil fuel produced in step b) to
hydrodesulfurization such that a majority of the sulfones present in said
fossil fuel are converted to hydrogen sulfide and said oxidized nitrogen-
containing compounds of step b) are converted to ammonia.
2
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