Kerosene Sweetening / Hydrotreating

Select an application

Mercaptans are undesirable and have to be eliminated because of their obnoxious odor and their tendency to hydrolyze, forming toxic and corrosive hydrogen sulfide.

The sweetening of kerosene aims to convert the acidic mercaptans sulfur compounds to neutral disulfides in order to pass the classic tests for mercaptan presence: copper corrosion strip test and the doctor test.

Process Technologies

Sweetn’K™

Sweetn'K™ converts Mercaptans directly to RSSR and is used to treat Kerosene through a catalyst fixed bed of SCPS-ready allowing to comply with JET-A1 specification. The unit is made of 3 sections:

A front prewash section, which neutralizes aliphatic acids.
The reaction section where an oxidation reaction converts mercaptans into disulfides. The reaction between mercaptans and air occurs in an alkaline environment in contact with Axens Solutions catalyst “SCPS Ready”.
In the finishing section, the kerosene is dried by a water removal mass and finally upgraded on a clay bed to improve product color.

This process features mild operating conditions:

Low pressure
Ambient temperature

Key features Simple, economic and reliable process

Commercial Bulletin

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts & Grading Materials

Catalysts

Sweetening Catalysts

For the sweetening of liquid hydrocarbons Axens offers catalysts using sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine as the active material.

Consulting, Studies & Audits

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

A modularization strategy offers superior benefits versus on-site manufacturing. During the last 40 years, Axens has supplied over 500 modular units, both onshore and offshore, providing tailor-made designs according to client project specifications.

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Digital Services & Applications

Axens' digital platform combines real-time data and digital solutions to optimize operations, reduce environmental impact, and lower costs while maximizing profitability. By delivering actionable insights and detailed performance reports, it enhances asset operation and performance for smarter, more efficient outcomes.

Prime-K™

In case sulfur content of kerosene feed is above 0.3%wt, and/or smoke point and/or freezing point of kerosene has to be improved to meet jet A1 specification, or even if flexibility is envisioned to send kerosene to diesel pool at 10ppm of sulfur content, Sweetening process is no more the solution, but Prime-K™ is.

The objective of the Prime-K™ process is mainly to reduce the total sulfur content of the kerosene cut and, if necessary, the aromatics content in order to improve the product smoke point, to produce jet fuels.

Related Offer

Modular Unit

Catalysts & Grading Materials

Catalysts

Middle Distillates & Naphtha Hydrotreating Catalysts

Axens’ portfolio has a complete, high performance range of hydrotreating catalysts allowing for increasingly more difficult feedstock to be processed without cycle penalty.

Adsorbents

Sulfur Removal Adsorbents for Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), COS, mercaptans or sulfides are common contaminants that must be removed from various gases and liquids such as natural gas, NGLs, LPGs, cracked gases, olefins or biogas.

Furnaces

Furnace(s) is a key equipment considering the need for optimal operation of unit. Thanks to an extensive design experience with feedbacks from operators and a complete knowledge of this process, Heurtey Petrochem Solutions provides an unparalleled service such as these following features:

High fuel efficiency (94%+) depending on fuel S level
Fully Modularized
Lowest Emission (95%+ reduction with emission reduction technology)
Optimized Plot Plan

Find out more

Consulting, Supply & Support

Consulting, Studies & Audits

Axens offers a customized approach, including tailored studies, audits and consulting services, covering technical and operational challenges.

Unit Revamps & Retrofits

You face many challenges, which include operating in a safe, reliable and environmentally sound manner while responding to changing markets dynamics.

Modular Units

Customer Training

Designed for all Axens technologies, dedicated to operators & engineers, Axens offers customized training solutions to all our licensees, covering the whole range of Axens technologies.

Technical Support & Performance Management

Axens is fully committed to be your partner and provide assistance and support during your project lifecycle, from conception to start-up & running operations.

Digital Services & Applications

Stay Ahead

Upcoming Events

15 Mar - 17 Mar

Conference

New Orleans, LA - Central Standard Time

3 Days

Learn more

AFPM Annual Meeting 2026

The AFPM Annual Meeting will be held in New Orleans, LA on March 15 - 17, 2026 at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans. The AFPM Annual Meeting is the world's premier refining meeting, assembling key executives, decision-makers, and technical experts from refining businesses, technology providers, contracting and consulting firms, and equipment manufacturers around the world.