METHOD FOR OXIDIZING SULFUR COMPOUND AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING DESULFURIZED OIL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for producing an oxidized sulfur compound by which operation can be performed under mild conditions without using a dangerous reagent and to provide a method for producing a desulfurized oil. SOLUTION: A sulfur compound is made to coexist with a transition metal catalyst, a sacrificial agent, oxygen and a solvent and oxidized to produce the oxidized sulfur compound. The sacrificial agent is preferably an aldehyde and the solvent is preferably, e.g. an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent. For the purpose of producing the desulfurized oil, the sulfur compound contained in petroleum is oxidized by the method and the produced sulfone or sulfoxide is separated by a method such as adsorption, distillation or extraction and desulfurized. Since the petroleum itself fulfills the role of the solvent in the process, the solvent is not required. The method for oxidative desulfurization has great industrial value because the rate of reaction is high without requiring the dangerous reagent such as hydrogen peroxide. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO