US Patent 9719029 Oxidative desulfurization process and system using gaseous oxidant-enhanced feed

An oxidative desulfurization process is provided in which gaseous oxidant required for oxidative desulfurization reactions is dissolved in the feedstock upstream of the oxidative desulfurization reactor. Gaseous oxidant is mixed with a generally liquid phase feedstock (and in certain embodiment peroxide precursors are also mixed) in a mixing zone under conditions effective to dissolve the gaseous oxidant in the liquid feedstock. The gaseous oxidant dissolved in the hydrocarbon feedstock provides a gaseous oxidant-enhanced feedstock which is charged to the oxidative desulfurization reaction zone thereby permitting substantially liquid phase operation.