A process is disclosed for the production of refinery transportation fuel
or components for refinery blending of transportation fuels having a
reduced amount of sulfur and/or nitrogen-containing impurities. The
process involves contacting a hydrocarbon feedstock containing the above
impurities with an immiscible phase containing hydrogen peroxide and
acetic acid in an oxidation zone to selectively oxidize the impurities.
After a gravity phase separation, the hydrocarbon phase containing any
remaining oxidized impurities, is passed to an extraction zone wherein
aqueous acetic acid is used to extract a portion of any remaining
oxidized impurities. A hydrocarbon stream having reduced impurities can
then be recovered. The acetic acid phase effluents from the oxidation and
the extraction zones can then be passed to a common separation zone for
recovery of the acetic acid and for optional recycle back to the
oxidation and extraction zones.