Abstract: Non-acidic sulfur compounds (e.g., thiols) can be selectively extracted from a hydrocarbon stream containing them (e.g., crude oil) by contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a carbonate solvent that contains at least one organic carbonate (e.g., propylene carbonate) in an amount effective to selectively absorb and extract the non-acidic sulfur compounds therefrom. The carbonate solvent may optionally also comprise an additional solvent (e.g., caprolactam), a soluble metal salt (e.g., a metal salt where the metal is iron), and/or a mercaptan scavenger that is a heterocyclic amine (e.g., oxazolidine).

Abstract: It is a continuing goal to reduce the amount of sludge produced in a biorefinery while also improving oil quality and water quality. In one aspect, an exemplary method of minimizing sludge from biorefineries includes the steps of feeding a source feedstock into a degumming centrifuge, where the source feedstock is separated into wet oil and a primary sludge stream, and conveying a portion of the primary sludge stream to a three-phase centrifuge. At the three-phase centrifuge, the portion of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered centrifuge oil, which is retrieved; centrifuged water, which is conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant; and centrifuged sludge. The remainder of the primary sludge stream is conveyed to a gravity separator, where the remainder of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered oil and residual sludge. The residual oil is retrieved from the gravity separator.

Abstract: Catalyst fines can be removed from heavy oils, such as marine fuel oils, by introducing an additive in an effective amount to at least partially remove the catalyst fines, where the additive is an oxyalkylated acid-catalyzed alkylphenol formaldehyde resin and/or a Mannich condensate base resin copolymer.

Abstract: Catalyst fines can be removed from heavy oils, such as marine fuel oils, by introducing an additive in an effective amount to at least partially remove the catalyst fines, where the additive is an oxyalkylated acid-catalyzed alkylphenol formaldehyde resin and/or a Mannich condensate base resin copolymer.

Abstract: A method for selective extraction of lithium from geothermal brines using host-guest complexes of host molecules such as calixarene, dendrimeric polymers, hyper-branched polymers, and/or acid-catalyzed resins complexed with synergists such as organic acids, condensation polymers, olefin/maleic anhydride copolymers, and/or chelants.

Abstract: A regeneration solvent comprised of one or more ethylene amines may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The one or more ethyleneamines may have structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1, R2, R5 and R6 are, to the extent chemically possible, independently H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group is independently H or C1 alkyl, where R3 and R4 are alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where x ranges from 0 to 3, y ranges from 1 to 6. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A solvent comprised of (1) a caustic and an alcohol, (2) a caustic and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, or (3) a caustic, an alcohol, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.

Abstract: A regeneration solvent comprised of one or more ethylene amines may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The one or more ethyleneamines may have structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1, R2, R5 and R6 are, to the extent chemically possible, independently H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group is independently H or C1 alkyl, where R3 and R4 are alkylene of from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, where x ranges from 0 to 3, y ranges from 1 to 6. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A solvent comprised of (1) a caustic and an alcohol, (2) a caustic and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide, or (3) a caustic, an alcohol, and a quaternary ammonium hydroxide may contact an adsorbent bed that has been used to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream to extract adsorbed sulfur compounds from the adsorbent material in the bed to regenerate it. The regenerated adsorbent bed may be reused, either alone or in combination with a liquid-liquid extraction column, to remove sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: A method of removing a metal contaminant from a light hydrocarbon stream comprises introducing a light hydrocarbon stream into a reactor vessel, the reactor vessel containing an aqueous treatment composition which comprises a treatment agent comprising one or more of the following: an alkali metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkaline earth metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkali metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate; or an alkaline earth metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate, the light hydrocarbon stream having an API gravity of greater than 28 degree determined in accordance with ASTM D 287-12 and comprising a metal contaminant; contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with the aqueous treatment composition generating a treated light hydrocarbon stream with a reduced level of the metal contaminant; and removing the treated light hydrocarbon stream from the reactor vessel.

Abstract: A method of removing a metal contaminant from a light hydrocarbon stream comprises introducing a light hydrocarbon stream into a reactor vessel, the reactor vessel containing an aqueous treatment composition which comprises a treatment agent comprising one or more of the following: an alkali metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkaline earth metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkali metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate; or an alkaline earth metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate, the light hydrocarbon stream having an API gravity of greater than 28 degree determined in accordance with ASTM D 287-12 and comprising a metal contaiminant; contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with the aqueous treatment composition generating a treated light hydrocarbon stream with a reduced level of the metal contaminant; and removing the treated light hydrocarbon stream from the reactor vessel.

Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.

Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.

Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the solubility parameters for a process stream via the joint use of turbidimetric detection of asphaltenes flocculation, which is used to determine and detect the onset flocculation of asphaltenes of the process stream, and a refractive index to determine the process stream solubility parameters such as the solubility blending number and insolubility number.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the solubility parameters for a process stream via the joint use of turbidimetric detection of asphaltenes flocculation, which is used to determine and detect the onset flocculation of asphaltenes of the process stream, and a refractive index to determine the process stream solubility parameters such as the solubility blending number and insolubility number.

Abstract: Biological source oils, including, but not limited to, algae oil, stabilize the presence of asphaltenes in petroleum feedstocks, such as crude oil, to help avoid or prevent fouling and/or corrosion in the production, transferring and processing of the petroleum feedstocks. Chemical additives such as phenol-based resins, and reaction products or combinations of long chain alpha-olefins and/or small chain aldehydes and/or long chain alkyl phenate sulfides and/or metal oxide-based colloidal hydrocarbon-based nanodispersions, may also stabilize the presence of asphaltenes in petroleum feedstocks. By “stabilizing” is meant keeping the asphaltenes in solution in the petroleum feedstocks.

Abstract: Industrial fluids may be monitored at the site of each industrial fluid by introducing a sample of the industrial fluid into a device employing a detection technique for detecting at least one composition within the sample. The detection technique may be or include surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), ultraviolet light (UV) spectroscopy, UV spectrophotometry, indirect UV spectroscopy, contactless conductivity, laser induced fluorescence, and combinations thereof. In one non-limiting embodiment, a separation technique may be applied to the sample prior to the introduction of the sample into the device for detecting the composition.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining the solubility parameters for a process stream via the joint use of turbidimetric detection of asphaltenes flocculation, which is used to determine and detect the onset flocculation of asphaltenes of the process stream, and a refractive index to determine the process stream solubility parameters such as the solubility blending number and insolubility number.