In the study of hydrodesulfurization of residual oil, determination of the relation between hydrogen consumption and sulfur removal is one of the most important items.
Khafji crude oil (sulfur content 2.78%) was hydrodesulfurized with conventional cobalt-molybdate catalyst using a flow reactor under constant hydrogen pressure at 40kg/cm²G.
1. Hydrogen consumption in hydrcdesulfurization was proportionally increased with increasing of sulfur removal. When sulfur removal was 50%, hydrogen consumption was approximately 40m³ per kiloliter of Khafji crude oil.
2. Vanadium content in oil did not decrease in mild processing, but asphaltene in oil reduced proportionally to the sulfur removal.
3. Reaction order of the removal of sulfur from Khafji crude oil was apparent second order.