Abstract: The removal of poisonous metalloids from crude oil is a method of removing naturally occurring arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) from crude oil before the crude oil is processed through a refinery. The removal of poisonous metalloids from crude oil entails forming an emulsion comprising the crude oil and an inorganic salt or mineral acid solution prepared by recirculation and agitation. The agitation of the emulsion causes arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) containing compounds to dissolve in the inorganic salt or mineral acid solution. The crude oil is separated from the inorganic salt or mineral acid solution by settling. The treated crude oil has a poisonous metalloid concentration of less than 1 ppm making it acceptable for oil refining operations. Optionally, any inorganic salt or mineral acid solution remaining in the crude oil after separation can be removed using a silica gel dryer.

Abstract: A system adapted to condition an initial water feed stream into a treated water stream and to discharge the treated water stream. The initial water feed stream includes at least one of: a plurality of particles; an oil; a volatile organic compound; a hydrogen sulfide; a non-volatile compound; a heavy metal; and, a dissolved ion. The system includes a particle and oil removal subsystem adapted to form a first partial treated water stream, a chemical oxygen demand reduction subsystem adapted to form a second partial treated water stream, and a heavy metal and dissolved ion removal subsystem adapted to form a treated water stream.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the reduction of the electrical conductivity of a product mixture containing the oil and water phases resulting from the conversion of biomass to liquid products, including the at least partial breaking of any oil/water emulsion, which aids in the separation of the oil and water phases.

Abstract: A method for determination for a given oil the relative stability of a water-in-oil emulsion that will be formed by that oil with water comprises measuring for the given oil the weight percent asphaltenes (A), total acid number (TAN), and ratio of the amount of naphthenic acids in the 450+ molecular weight to 450 molecular weight range (R); calculating an emulsion stability parameter, S=A+TAN*R; and determining whether the emulsion stability parameter, S, is greater than about 3; with a value above 3 being determinative of an emulsion more stable than one with a value less than 3.

Abstract: The invention includes a method for demulsification of water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and mixtures of water-in-oil and oil-in-water emulsions by oscillatory mixing of the emulsions.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid additive with at least 16 carbon atom alkyl group and at least two 6 carbon-ring aromatic group and a co-additive selected from the group consisting of dipropylene monobutyl ether, aromatic naphtha, isoparaffinic solvent, cycloparaffinic solvent, aromatic solvent, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, benzyl alcohol and mixtures thereof and a process for demulsification and desalting crude oil using the demulsifier formulation.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an alkyl aromatic sulfonic acid additive with at least 16 carbon atom alkyl group and at least two 6 carbon-ring aromatic group and a co-additive selected from the group consisting of dipropylene monobutyl ether, isoparaffinic solvent, cycloparaffinic solvent, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, benzyl alcohol, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is related to a process for desalting crude oil that requires less wash water than conventional desalting methods. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an emulsion-breaking chemical and a solvent carrier is added to the crude oil. Wash water is then added to the crude oil until the volume of water in the oil ranges from about 0.1 to about 3 vol. %. Subsequently, the mixture of crude oil, wash water, and chemical demulsifier formulation is subjected to opposed-flow mixing. Chemical emulsion-breakers useful in the invention have a hydrophobic tail group and a hydrophilic head group. Preferably, the emulsion breaker has the formula: x ranges from 1 to 5, y ranges from 0 to 2, and R is an alkyl group having 4-9 carbon atoms, and n ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: The chemical demulsifier formulation has the formula: wherein R1 is H or an alkoxide of from 5 to about 20 carbon atoms; x is an integer of from about 8 to about 22 when R1 is hydrogen and from about 2 to about 5 when R1 is alkoxide; R2 is independently selected from H, (CH2CH2O)mH; R3 is independently selected from H, (CH2CH2O)nH, and (CH2CH(CH3)O)nH; m and n are integers from 1 to 50; and y and z are integers ranging from 2 to 10.

Abstract: Improved performance in the phase separation of aqueous brines from hydrocarbons within an electrostatic desalter operation is obtained by the addition to the crude oil emulsions entering the desalter of an effective asphaltene dispersing amount of an alkyl phenol-formaldehyde liquid resin polymer, optionally in the presence of a lipophilic/hydrophilic vinylic polymer. The preferred resin is a nonyl phenol-formaldehyde resin having a molecular weight of from 1,000-20,000, and the preferred vinylic polymer is a copolymer of lauryl (meth)acrylate and hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate. Best results from the electrostatic desalter are obtained when also using a demulsifier chemical treatment along with the asphaltene dispersing treatments. Desalter efficiency is increased and desalter brine effluent quality is greatly increased.

Abstract: A method of increasing the efficiency of the electrostatic separation of a continuous hydrocarbon emulsions or dispersion by increasing the electrical conductivity of the emulsion or dispersion. An increase in electrical conductivity is provided with an effective amount of an electrically conductive agent (conductivity modifier). Examples of electrically conductive agents are antistatic agents such as anionic, cationic, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants.

Abstract: Improvement in the process of extracting metals, particularly copper, from aqueous ammoniacal solutions with beta-diketone extractants dissolved in a water immiscible hydrocarbon diluent, such as a kerosene, in which the improvement comprises application of a voltage potential across the interface of the aqueous and organic layers of an extraction circuit with an electrostatic coalescer, and maintaining the voltage potential until the layers have been separated, to control entrainment of the aqueous layer into the organic layer, thereby significantly reducing metal production cost and providing improved metal quality by minimizing ammonia entrapment and carry over to the aqueous stripping solution from which the metal is recovered, typically by electrowinning of the aqueous acid strip solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for decreasing the Conradson carbon content of petroleum streams by forming a mixture of the petroleum stream and an essentially aqueous electrolysis medium, and passing an electric current through the mixture at an anodic voltage and pH sufficient to produce a petroleum fraction having decreased Conradson carbon content. The anodic voltage is from +0.5 to +1.5V vs. SCE. Preferably the pH is acidic. The invention provides a method for enhancing the value of petroleum feeds that traditionally have limited use in refineries.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a process for electrochemically decreasing the Conradson carbon number of petroleum streams by contacting a Conradson carbon containing petroleum stream and an aqueous electrolysis medium with a low hydrogen overpotential metal cathode at an electric current and pH sufficient to decrease the Conradson carbon of the petroleum stream. The cathode voltage is from 0 V to -3.0 V vs. SCE at a pH of from 7 to 14. The cathode material typically is stainless steel, chromium, copper and nickel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a process for electrochemically demetallating petroleum streams by contacting a hydrocarbon-soluble metals containing petroleum stream and an aqueous electrolysis medium with a low hydrogen overpotential metal cathode at an electric current and pH sufficient to demetallate the petroleum stream. The cathode voltage is from 0 V to -3.0 V vs. SCE at a pH of from 7 to 14. The cathode material typically is stainless steel, chromium, copper and nickel.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of decreasing the Conradson carbon content of metal containing petroleum streams by forming a mixture of the Conradson carbon containing petroleum fraction and an aqueous electrolysis medium containing an electron transfer agent, and passing an electric current through the mixture or optionally through the pretreated aqueous electrolysis medium at a voltage, sufficient to decrease the Concarbon content of the stream. 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.

Abstract: A process for separating an emulsion into separate and easily recoverable phases. The process comprises exposing an emulsion comprising a discontinuous phase and a non-conducting continuous phase to an electric field thereby effecting coalescence of the discontinuous phase into droplets of a size for effective gravitation from the continuous phase, where the discontinuous phase and the continuous phase have different dielectric constants and densities and at least one of the phases comprise a silicon containing compound or a silicon containing polymer. The present process is especially useful for separating emulsions where the discontinuous phase is an aqueous acid solution and the continuous phase is diorganopolysiloxane.

Abstract: A method is provided to remove metals from a residual oil containing an initial amount of a selected metal, the method comprising the steps of:providing a vessel for exposing the residual oil to a DC electric field having a strength of about one kV/inch or greater,passing the residual oils through the vessel whereby at least ten percent by weight of the initial amount of the selected metal is removed by attraction to an electrode; andpassing the residual oil that has been passed through the vessel over a hydrodemetalization catalyst in the presence of hydrogen. Metal containing particles and other toluene insoluble organic and inorganic solids are effectively removed from residual oil streams by treatment with a DC electrical field prior to hydrodemetalization resulting in significant increases in useful lives for downstream hydrodemetalization catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for decreasing the Conradson carbon ("Concarbon") number of petroleum feedstreams by passing an electric current through a mixture of a petroleum stream, typically having a Conradson carbon residue of at least about 0.1% and an aqueous electrolysis medium at a pH and cathodic voltage for a time sufficient to decrease the Conradson carbon number of the petroleum stream. The electrolysis medium contains quaternary carbyl or hydrocarbyl onium salts; inorganic hydroxides such as NaOH or KOH, or mixtures thereof. A cathodic voltage of 0 V to -3.0 V vs. Saturated Calomel Electrode (SCE) and a pH of 6-14, preferably 7 to 14, more preferably above 7 to 14 are used.The invention has utility for converting less economically desirable refinery feeds to feeds that are more valuable.