Oil Refining / Merox

Merox (Mercaptan Oxidation) is a licensed refinery process that sweetens LPG, kerosene, and jet fuel by converting mercaptans to disulfides using activated carbon as a catalyst support. The carbon bed must withstand continuous liquid-phase contact, elevated temperatures, and regular caustic wash cycles.

UCI 8u00d730 Premio UCI UW-22

How It Works

The process, step by step

Merox catalyst loading

Carbon impregnated with cobalt phthalocyanine catalyst is loaded into fixed-bed sweetening reactors.

Sweetening reaction

Petroleum fraction passes through the carbon bed with caustic and air. Mercaptans oxidise to disulfides at the carbon surface.

Caustic wash & regeneration

Carbon bed is periodically washed with caustic to remove deposits and restore catalyst activity. Ultra-high hardness prevents attrition.

Key Specifications

Hardness

>98% (ASTM)

Caustic wash cycles create mechanical stress. Low hardness means attrition, fines, and bed channelling.

Mesh Size

8u00d730 (standard)

Uniform mesh ensures consistent bed void fraction and predictable pressure drop in sweetening units

Iodine Number

>900 mg/g

High surface area provides maximum catalyst support surface and sustained sweetening activity

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Grade Selection

Recommended grades for Oil Refining / Merox

These grades are specifically optimised for this application. Full technical data sheets available on request.

UCI 8u00d730 Premio

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Wood

Primary Merox grade. High hardness, consistent 8u00d730 mesh, proven in LPG and kerosene sweetening.

UCI UW-22

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Wood

High-specification Merox duty u2014 ultra-pure, low ash, for refinery applications with strict contamination limits.

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Other Sectors

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🌬️ Air & VOC Control 🌿 Edible Oil Refining 🍶 Food & Beverage 🛡️ Gas Masks & CBRN 🥇 Gold Recovery ⚗️ Pharma & API Purification 🍬 Sugar Refining 💧 Water Treatment

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