A process for the selective hydrodesulfurization of olefinic naphtha
streams containing a substantial amount of organically-bound sulfur and
olefins. The olefinic naphtha stream is selectively desulfurized in a
first hydrodesulfurization stage. The effluent stream from this first
stage is sent to a separation zone wherein a lower boiling naphtha stream
and a higher boiling naphtha stream are produced. The lower boiling
naphtha stream is sent through at least two more separation zones, each
at a lower temperature than the preceding separation stage. The higher
boiling naphtha stream, which contains most of the sulfur moieties, is
passed to a second hydrodesulfurization stage wherein at least a fraction
of the sulfur moieties are removed.