Abstract: A small-scale dynamic simulator for crude oil refinery desalters has a pressurized oil deviblis configured to hold a supply of crude oil and a water deviblis configured to hold a supply of wash water. At least one chemical feed pump selectively adds emulsion breaker chemicals to the desalter simulator and a low shear metering pump is configured to pump crude oil and wash water through the desalter simulator. An emulsion forming device forms a crude oil-wash water emulsion that is then received in a desalter vessel. The desalting vessel is fitted with electric grids which simulate those found in electric desalters. The emulsion is resolved within the desalter vessel with the assistance of the emulsion breaker chemicals so the wash water and crude oil form distinct phases, with substantially desalted crude oil removed from an upper portion of the desalter vessel and substantially oil-free wash water removed from a bottom portion of the desalter vessel.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the use of a class of acetylenic surfactants to resolve or break water and oil emulsions. The surfactants are of particular advantage in resolving crude oil emulsions of the type encountered in desalter and similar apparatus designed to extract brines from the crude as they partition to the aqueous phase in the desalter.

Abstract: An extraction aid has been found which provides for enhanced contaminate removal, such as metals and amines, from crude oils that uses components that are desirable in desalting processes as the components are water soluble, have low toxicity, are highly biodegradeable and exhibit high thermal stability. According to one embodiment of the invention, an extraction aid that provides enhanced extraction properties is comprised of a blend of acids, particularly water soluble acids. More specifically, a combination of two acids chosen from the group consisting of acetic acid, sulfuric acid, glycolic acid, citric acid and methanesulfonic acid.

Abstract: A method for identifying contaminants within a liquid hydrocarbon media containing contaminants includes adding an optical tag to a water wash, adding the tagged water wash to the liquid hydrocarbon media, emulsifying the liquid hydrocarbon media and analyzing the contaminants in the hydrocarbon media with a microscope. Methods for removing contaminants and evaluating treatment are also provided.

Abstract: A method of extracting iron species from a liquid hydrocarbon medium comprising adding to the medium a composition comprised of an aminocarboxylic acid, methoxypropylamine and a solvent selected from the group consisting of 2-ethylhexanol, cresylic acid, ethylene glycol and hexylene glycol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the use of a solution of a percarbonate compound to prevent fouling during the basic washing of hydrocarbons containing oxygenated compounds. More specifically, oxygenated compounds such as carbonyl containing organics have a tendency to polymerize, producing fouling elements when such are contained in hydrocarbons being washed with basic materials. Solutions of percarbonate compounds are quite effective in reducing the fouling tendencies due to these specific mechanisms.

Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting the production of acid in acid mine waters by controlling the growth of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans in the mine waters by adding an effective amount of acrolein. This will reduce acid mine drainage to other aqueous systems. The methods comprise adding from about 0.1 to about 10 parts acrolein per million parts of the mine water for which acid production inhibition is sought.

Abstract: A method for the inhibition of silica deposition on the surfaces of a structure which contains an aqueous medium comprising adding to the aqueous medium a composition comprising HEDP, PEG and a water soluble polymer having the structure: ##STR1## wherein M is a water soluble cation. This invention is particularly effective in cooling water and steam generating systems.

Abstract: A method for the inhibition of silica deposition on the internal surfaces of an aqueous system comprising adding to the aqueous system a phosphonate compound and a water soluble polymer having the structure: ##STR1## wherein M is a water soluble cation. The aqueous systems in which the water soluble phosphonate and polymer are particularly effective on cooling water and boiler systems.

Abstract: This invention relates to the generation of acrolein from an acetal of acrolein via exposure to a sulfonic acid reusable catalytic material. The acrolein acetals have the following general structures; ##STR1## where R may or may not be equal to R' and R/R' is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbons; and ##STR2## where R is a cyclic diol derived from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, glycerol hexoses or polysaccharides.

Abstract: This invention relates to the generation of acrolein from an acetal of acrolein via exposure to a sulfonic acid reusable catalytic material. The acrolein acetals have the following general structures; ##STR1## where R may or may not be equal to R' R/R' is an alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbons; and ##STR2## where R is a cyclic diol derived from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, pentylene glycol, hexylene glycol, glycerol hexoses or polyaccharides.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for determining the fouling tendency of a crude petroleum oil feed, comprising the steps of:(a) mixing a selected volume of crude petroleum oil sample with a selected volume of a solvent medium,(b) agitating the resulting mixture to solubilize fouling-determining materials in the solvent medium,(c) removing a sample of the resulting solvent medium,(d) determining absorbance of the resulting solvent medium at 230-270 nm and subtracting from the absorbance that of control solvent medium to obtain corrected absorbance of the resulting solvent medium and(e) determining the fouling tendency of the crude petroleum oil sample by correlating the corrected absorbance of the resulting solvent medium with calibration data specific for the solvent medium used, the ratio of oil sample to polar solvent and the wavelength at which absorbance is determined.