Removal of elemental sulfur in pipelines using static mixers

A process for the removal of elemental sulfur from a hydrocarbon stream containing same, which process comprises:

• a) treating said hydrocarbon stream with an effective amount of an aqueous solution comprised of caustic and at least one sulfide compound selected from the group consisting of Group I and Group II metal sulfides and polysulfides;
• b) conducting said treated hydrocarbon stream through one or more sections of pipe whose inner surface contains one or more mixing elements wherein said treated hydrocarbon stream is subjected to static mixing conditions for an effective amount of time thereby resulting in a two phase system wherein the aqueous solution is one phase and the hydrocarbon stream is another phase and wherein the elemental sulfur of the hydrocarbon stream is converted to polysulfides that are substantially insoluble in the hydrocarbon stream but substantially soluble in the aqueous phase and wherein at least a portion of the polysulfides formed from elemental sulfur of the hydrocarbon stream dissolves in the aqueous phase;
• c) conducting the two phase system of b) to a liquid/liquid separation zone wherein the two phase system is separated into a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase containing dissolved polysulfides formed from the elemental sulfur of the hydrocarbon stream;
• d) collecting the resulting hydrocarbon stream from said liquid/liquid separation zone, which hydrocarbon stream is substantially reduced in elemental sulfur;
• and
• e) collecting the aqueous phase containing polysulfides formed from elemental sulfur of the hydrocarbon stream.