Treatment of hydrocarbons Containing Sulfides

Abstract

Potassium formate is used together with a sulfide scavenger to remove and otherwise treat sulfhydryl compounds such as hydrogen sulfide present in hydrocarbons and aqueous substrates

1 . Method of reducing the level of sulfide impurities present in a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon substrate containing a sulfide comprising contacting the hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon substrate with potassium formate and a sulfide scavenger.  
     
     
         2 . Method of  claim 1  wherein said sulfide scavenger comprises a reaction product of an amine and an aldehyde.  
     
     
         3 . Method of reducing the level of sulfide impurities present in a hydrocarbon also containing water comprising (a) contacting said hydrocarbon with potassium formate to extract at least some of said sulfide impurities with at least some of said water from said hydrocarbon and (b) contacting said water with a sulfide scavenger.  
     
     
         4 . Method of  claim 3  wherein said potassium formate is in an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         5 . Method of  claim 4  wherein said aqueous solution includes potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         6 . A composition comprising a sulfide scavenger and potassium formate in a weight ratio of 1:9 to 9:1.  
     
     
         7 . Composition of  claim 6  wherein said potassium formate is in an aqueous solution.  
     
     
         8 . A composition of  claim 7  including potassium hydroxide.  
     
     
         9 . Composition of  claim 7  wherein said potassium formate is made by the reaction in water of potassium hydroxide and formic acid.  
     
     
         10 . Composition of  claim 8  wherein said potassium hydroxide is in excess of the molar amount for reaction with said formic acid.  
     
     
         11 . Method of scavenging a sulfhydryl compound from a hydrocarbon substrate containing a sulfhydryl compound or an aqueous substrate containing a sulfhydryl compound, comprising contacting said substrate with potassium formate and a sulfide scavenger, said sulfide scavenger comprising an amine/aldehyde condensate.  
     
     
         12 . Method of  claim 11  wherein said potassium formate is in aqueous solution.  
     
     
         13 . Method of  claim 12  wherein said potassium formate solution contains potassium hydroxide in addition to said potassium formate.  
     
     
         14 . Method of  claim 12  wherein said substrate is a hydrocarbon substrate and at least two contactings of said substrate are made.  
     
     
         15 . Method of removing a sulfide from an aqueous sulfide-containing substrate comprising contacting said sulfide-containing composition with potassium formate and a sulfide scavenger.  
     
     
         16 . Method of  claim 15  wherein said sulfide-containing composition is a pulp-containing composition in a paper-making facility.  
     
     
         17 . Method of  claim 15  wherein said sulfide-containing composition is a sewage composition.  
     
     
         18 . Method of  claim 15  wherein said substrate is an aqueous waste stream from a tanning facility  
     
     
         19 . Method of  claim 15  wherein said substrate is an aqueous waste stream from a pulp mill.  
     
     
         20 . Method of  claim 15  wherein said substrate is a drilling fluid.