Operations of selenium removal sorbent beds
AssigneeConocoPhillips Company
InventorsMark A. Hughes, Steven C. Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus relate to removing selenium from a fluid. The fluid includes non-selenium constituents that are insoluble at a pH in which the fluid is passed through a sorbent bed in order to remove the selenium. Fouling of the sorbent bed can thereby result due to accumulation of the non-selenium constituents, which are precipitated solid materials. Intermittent washing of the sorbent bed with a heated and alkaline wash dissolves and removes the non-selenium constituents to maintain efficient operation and sustain selenium removal performance.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- removing selenium from an acidic aqueous fluid by contacting the acidic aqueous fluid with a sorbent for the selenium, wherein the acidic aqueous fluid contains solid constituents;
- washing the sorbent with an alkaline fluid, wherein the washing occurs at a temperature above 35° C. to dissolve and remove the solid constituents accumulated within a bed formed of the sorbent;
- and
- alternating flow through the bed between the acidic aqueous fluid for the removing of the selenium and the alkaline fluid for the washing of the sorbent.
A system comprising:
- a selenium-containing acidic aqueous fluid supply;
- an alkaline fluid supply;
- a heater having a heated alkaline fluid output by being coupled to supply heat to the alkaline fluid supply;
- a selenium removal assembly that includes a sorbent for selenium;
- and
- a flow control device operable to alternate fluid communication with the selenium removal assembly between the acidic aqueous fluid supply and the heated alkaline fluid output.
A method comprising:
- passing an aqueous liquid containing selenium into contact with a sorbent for selenium to remove the selenium from the aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid is acidified to facilitate removing the selenium;
- and
- passing a wash fluid through a bed formed of the sorbent to remove accumulation of organic compounds that are solids precipitated by the aqueous liquid being acidified, wherein the wash fluid is made alkaline and heated to facilitate dissolving and removal of the organic compounds from the bed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.