Mercury removal process

Abstract

A process is disclosed for decreasing the level of elemental mercury contained in a liquid hydrocarbon stream by a) contacting the liquid hydrocarbon stream with a water stream containing an oxidizing agent for conversion of at least a portion of the Hg(0) to Hg(II); b) extracting at least a portion of the Hg(II) from the liquid hydrocarbon stream into the water stream, thereby forming a treated liquid hydrocarbon stream and a waste water stream containing water and Hg(II); and c) separating the treated liquid hydrocarbon stream from the waste water stream.

1 . A process comprising:
 a) contacting a liquid hydrocarbon stream comprising liquid hydrocarbons and Hg(0) with a water stream consisting essentially of water and an oxidizing agent for conversion of at least a portion of said Hg(0) to Hg(II);   b) extracting at least a portion of said Hg(II) from said liquid hydrocarbon stream into said water stream, thereby forming a treated liquid hydrocarbon stream containing less Hg than said liquid hydrocarbon stream and a waste water stream comprising water and Hg(II); and   c) separating said treated liquid hydrocarbon stream from said waste water stream.   
   
   
       2 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said liquid hydrocarbon stream comprises crude oil and Hg (0). 
   
   
       3 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said oxidizing agent is sodium hypochlorite. 
   
   
       4 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said oxidizing agent is present in said water stream in an amount such that the molar ratio of said oxidizing agent to said Hg (0) present in said liquid hydrocarbon stream is at least about 1:1. 
   
   
       5 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said oxidizing agent is present in said water stream in an amount such that the molar ratio of said oxidizing agent to said Hg(0) present in said liquid hydrocarbon stream is at least about 7:1. 
   
   
       6 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said oxidizing agent is present in said water stream in an amount such that the molar ratio of said oxidizing agent to said Hg(0) present in said liquid hydrocarbon stream is at least about 143:1. 
   
   
       7 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said contacting of said liquid hydrocarbon stream with said water stream is at a temperature at least above the freezing points of said liquid hydrocarbon stream and said water stream. 
   
   
       8 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said contacting of said liquid hydrocarbon stream with said water stream is at a temperature at least above the freezing points of said liquid hydrocarbon stream and said water stream and below about 100° C. 
   
   
       9 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said contacting of said liquid hydrocarbon stream with said water stream is at a temperature at least above about 20° C. and below about 70° C. 
   
   
       10 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said treated liquid hydrocarbon stream contains less than about 50 wt. % of the total Hg contained in said liquid hydrocarbon stream. 
   
   
       11 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said treated liquid hydrocarbon stream contains less than about 20 wt. % of the total Hg contained in said liquid hydrocarbon stream. 
   
   
       12 . A process in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said treated liquid hydrocarbon stream contains less than about 1 wt. % of the total Hg contained in said liquid hydrocarbon stream.