Water-based formulation of h2s/mercaptan scavenger for fluids in oilfield and refinery applications

A protic composition for treating fluids containing hydrogen sulfide comprising:

• a protic solvent selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, glycols, and combinations thereof;
• optionally a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and combinations thereof;
• and
• from about 50 to about 1000 ppm present in the protic composition of a non-nitrogen-based compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein each R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aryl, an acyl, a halogen, a hydroxyl, an alkyl ester, an aryl ester, an alkyl ether, an aryl ether, a hydroxymethyl, an anhydride, and a sulfide, where the protic composition reduces the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the fluid as compared to an identical method absent the protic composition, where the fluid is selected from the group consisting of:
• an aqueous phase,
• a gaseous phase,
• a mixture of an aqueous phase and a gaseous phase,
• a mixture of an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase, and
• a mixture of an aqueous phase, a gaseous phase and a hydrocarbon phase;
• and
• where the protic composition has a pH of greater than 9.

A protic composition for treating fluids containing hydrogen sulfide comprising:

• a protic solvent;
• a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and combinations thereof;
• and
• a non-nitrogen-based compound having a formula selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein each R1, R2, R3, and R4 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, an alkenyl, an aryl, an acyl, a halogen, a hydroxyl, an alkyl ester, an aryl ester, an alkyl ether, an aryl ether, a hydroxymethyl, an anhydride, and a sulfide, where the protic composition reduces the amount of hydrogen sulfide in the fluid as compared to an identical method absent the protic composition, where the fluid is selected from the group consisting of:
• an aqueous phase,
• a gaseous phase,
• a mixture of an aqueous phase and a gaseous phase,
• a mixture of an aqueous phase and a hydrocarbon phase, and
• a mixture of an aqueous phase, a gaseous phase and a hydrocarbon phase;
• and
• the protic composition having a pH of from about 11 to about 13.