Process for removing metals from crude

Abstract

A process for removing metal from a metal-containing hydrocarbon oil such as a heavy crude is disclosed which comprises: (a) contacting a hydrocarbon oil phase containing at least one metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium and nickel with an aqueous phase of dissolved phosphorous compound capable of forming a compound or a complex with said metal, said aqueous phase containing a substantial quantity of water relative to the amount of liquid hydrocarbon contacted therewith, said contacting resulting in the removal of a substantial quantity of the metal from the hydrocarbon oil phase to the aqueous phase; and, (b) separating the metal-containing aqueous phase from the demetalated hydrocarbon oil phase prior to subjecting the latter to downstream catalytic processing.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.