Methods for optimal usage and improved valuation of corrosive petroleum feedstocks and fractions (law521)

A method to optimize the addition of acid neutralizing agents to a petroleum feedstream that is processed into process streams comprising:

• (a) determining the optical absorbance spectrum of the feedstream and/or processed streams;
• (b) predicting the organic acid content and/or corrosion rate of the feedstream and/or processed streams from its spectrum;
• (c) adding the neutralizing agent in batch or intermittent or continuously mixed flow;
• (d) measuring the optical spectrum of the treated feedstream and/or processed streams;
• (e) predicting the remaining acid content and/or the corrosion rate of the treated feedstream and/or processed streams without removing the neutralized products or unreacted neutralizing agent;
• and
• (f) controlling the amount or blend of neutralizing agents, and/or the temperature, pressure, mixing, or flow conditions in the neutralizing process to achieve the target acid level and/or corrosion rate in the treated feedstream and/or processed streams.