Process for removing mercury from liquid hydrocarbons using a sulfur-containing organic compound
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorsTheodore C. Frankiewicz, John Gerlach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mercury is removed from crude oils, natural gas condensates and other liquid hydrocarbons by first removing colloidal mercury and solids that contain adsorbed mercury and then treating the hydrocarbons with an organic or inorganic compound containing at least one sulfur atom reactive with mercury. The sulfur compound reacts with dissolved mercury that contaminates the hydrocarbons to form mercury-containing particulates that are then removed from the hydrocarbons to produce a purified product having a reduced mercury content. Preferably, the treating agent is an organic sulfur-containing compound such as a dithiocarbamate or sulfurized isobutylene.
Claims14
A method for removing mercury from a liquid hydrocarbon feed comprising:
- (a) mixing said liquid hydrocarbon feed with an organic compound containing at least one sulfur atom that is reactive with mercury, wherein said organic compound is not supported on carrier solids;
- and
- (b) separating mercury-containing particulates formed in step (a) by the reaction of said organic compound with mercury from the effluent of step (a) to produce liquid hydrocarbons having a reduced mercury concentration as compared to said liquid hydrocarbon feed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.