# US 8,570,497 B2 · Oil in water analyzer

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- Number: US 8,570,497 B2
- Document ID: US8570497B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/020,266
- Filed: 2011-02-03
- Published: 2011-08-11
- Granted: 2013-10-29
- Earliest claimed: 2010-02-08
- Assignees: Phillips 66 Company
- Applicants: Christopher J. LaFrancois; James F. Stewart; Gregory C. Allred; Marlon Ash
- Inventors: Christopher J. LaFrancois; James F. Stewart; Gregory C. Allred; Marlon Ash
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570497B2

## CPC

- G01N 33/1833: {Oil in water}
- G01N 21/3577: for analysing liquids, e.g. polluted water
- G01N 21/33: using ultraviolet light (G01N21/39 takes precedence)
- G01N 21/35: using infrared light (G01N21/39 takes precedence)
- G01N 21/41: Refractivity; Phase-affecting properties, e.g. optical path length (G01N21/21 takes precedence)
- G01N 21/64: Fluorescence; Phosphorescence
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

An oil in water analyzer for measuring the concentration of hydrocarbons in an effluent stream. The oil in water analyzer has a valve system for acquiring a sample from an effluent stream. An extraction device is used for mixing a known volume of a solvent and the sample to produce a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture. A second valve is used for transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell. It is at the spectroscopic cell where the concentration of hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture is evaluated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
a) producing an effluent stream;
b) acquiring a sample from the effluent stream;
c) transferring the sample into an extraction device;
d) injecting a known volume of a water-immiscible solvent into the extraction device;
e) mixing the sample and the known volume of the water-immiscible solvent in the extraction device;
f) extracting a hydrocarbon/solvent mixture from the sample;
g) transporting the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture to a spectroscopic cell;
h) determining the hydrocarbon concentration of the hydrocarbon/solvent mixture by spectroscopy techniques; and
i) continuously altering a dewatering/desalting operation based upon the concentration of the hydrocarbon material in the sample.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the effluent stream is from a dewatering/desalting process.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the effluent stream comprises water and a hydrocarbon material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the amount of water in the effluent stream is at least 95 wt %.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the hydrocarbon material is at least 10 ppm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the sample taken from the effluent stream ranges from 0.5 mL to 50 mL.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is water-immiscible.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises a group of water-immiscible solvents consisting of: toluene, xylene, substituted aromatics, mixed aromatics, mixed hydrocarbons, straight run gasoline, saturated hydrocarbons and halogenated alkanes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the spectroscopy techniques utilized consisting of: ultra violet spectroscopy, visible spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and refractive index.

### Claim 10

An oil in water analyzing method comprising:
a) producing an effluent stream from a dewatering/desalting operation wherein a portion of the effluent stream flows through a sample loop of the oil in water analyzer,
b) trapping from 0.5 mL to 50 mL of a sample of the effluent stream from the dewatering/desalting operation within the sample loop;
c) transferring the sample into an extraction device with the assist of a pressurized gas;
d) injecting a known volume of toluene into the extraction device;
e) mixing the sample and the known volume of toluene in the extraction device;
f) feeding air through a venturi to create a pumping action to extract an amount of a hydrocarbon from the sample into the toluene;
g) transferring the hydrocarbon/toluene mixture to a spectroscopic cell with a water assist;
h) determining the hydrocarbon concentration of the hydrocarbon/toluene mixture by spectroscopy techniques;
i) transferring the leftover hydrocarbon/toluene mixture and water to a waste removal port with the assist of pressurized gas; and
j) injecting an amount of toluene to solvent rinse the oil in water analyzer,
wherein the operation of the dewatering/desalting operation is adjusted based upon the concentration of the hydrocarbon material in the sample.