2) United States Patent Sherman et al. us 106238551 B1 US 6,238,551 BL *May 29, 2001 a0) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent: Ga) (75) 3) o en 2) (@) Gn G2) (8) METHOD OF REMOVING CONTAMINANTS FROM PETROLEUM DISTILLATES Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Dallas, TX (US); Richard T. Taylor, Oxford, OH (US); Amanda L. Hofacker, Oxford, OH. 1S); James W. Hershberger, Oxford, ; Garrett M. Conn, Hiackley, im A. Gorman, Corpus Christi, TX (US) Assignee: Miami University, Oxford, OH (US) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 USC. 154(b) by 0 days. ‘This patent is subject to a terminal dis- claimer. Appl. No. 09/465,637 Filed: Dee. 17, 1999 Related U Application Data CContinsstion-in-prt of application No, 09/250,741, filed on Feb. 16, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,007,701, and » continuation of aplication No, 09/265,903, fled on Mar. 10, 1999 Int. CL? C1oM 175/00 US. Cl 208/181; 208/184; 208/179: 208/183, Field of Search 208/181, 184 66) References Cited US. PATENT DOCUMENTS 5814207 9/1908 Kenton 209184 5,880,325 * 3/1999 Award eta. 5 6,007,701 * 12/1999 Sherman etal 208/181 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner—Helane E. Myers (74) Aitorney, Agent, or Firm—Michael A. O'Neil 67) ABSTRACT In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polyouclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing ot converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms {rom poirolcum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganie or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate An inorganic or organic base, & phase wansfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, ‘and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the result- ing distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is thea reused, ‘The petroleum distillate hhaving the contaminants separated therefrom is aso distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recov- cred solvent being reused. 13 Claims, 4 Drawing SheetsU.S. Patent May 29, 2001 Sheet 1 of 4 US 6,238,551 BL Fig. 1AU.S. Patent May 29, 2001 Sheet 2 of 4 US 6,238,551 B1