Nature of Mercaptans in Straight-Run Jet Fuel Fractions

The dependence of mercaptan content in straight-run jet fuel on operation conditions of column C-1 of primary oil refining plant is shown. With rise of temperature at the bottom of column C-1 the amount of decomposed unstable sulfur compounds increases and in the process the decomposition products (mercaptans and hydrogen sulfide) are removed with the gasoline fraction in column C-1 and lesser amount of unstable sulfur compounds enter column C-2, which reduces mercaptan content in straight-run kerosene. The mercaptan contents in narrow oil fractions and straight-run jet fuel were compared. It was found that the mercaptan content is higher in straight-run jet fuel and they come from the oil and as well as from decomposition of unstable sulfur compounds, perhaps primarily disulfides.