Method for demetallating petroleum streams
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsMark Alan Greaney, William Neergaard Olmstead
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Abstract
The present invention provides for a method of decreasing the metals content of metal containing petroleum streams by forming a mixture of the petroleum fraction containing those metals and an aqueous electrolysis medium containing electron transfer agent, and passing an electric current through the mixture or through the pretreated aqueous electrolysis medium at a voltage, sufficient to remove the metals such as Ni, V and Fe from the stream (i.e. to produce a petroleum fraction having decreased content of the metals). The cathodic voltage is from 0 V to -3.0 V vs. SCE. The invention provides a method for enhancing the value of petroleum feeds that traditionally have limited use in refineries due to their metals, e.g., Ni and V content.
Claims9
A process for demetallating a petroleum stream, comprising:
- applying to an oil in water dispersion of a hydrocarbon soluble metals-containing petroleum stream and an aqueous electrolysis medium containing at least one electron transfer agent and at least one redox-stable electroconductive salt a sufficient electric current to produce a petroleum stream having a decreased metals content.
A process for demetallating a petroleum stream, comprising:
- (a) contacting an aqueous electrolysis medium containing at least one electron transfer agent capable of undergoing reversible electrochemical redox and at least one electronconductive salt with a sufficient electrical current to produce a treated aqueous electrolysis medium containing a reduced electron transfer agent;
- (b) contacting the treated aqueous electrolysis medium of step (a) with a metals-containing petroleum stream for a time sufficient to produce a petroleum stream having a decreased metals content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.