Use of alpha-amino ethers for the removal of hydrogen sulfide from hydrocarbons

Abstract

The invention provides a method of removing hydrogen sulfide from hydrocarbon fluids. The method involves using an alpha-amino ether as a hydrogen sulfide scavenger. This allows for the introduction of an oil soluble scavenger in lieu of water-soluble scavengers.

1 . A method of reducing the amount of hydrogen sulfide in a hydrocarbon fluid by contacting that fluid with an effective amount of a composition comprising a hydrogen sulfide scavenger, wherein the amount of hydrogen sulfide scavenger is sufficient to react with the hydrogen sulfide to reduce the hydrogen sulfide found in the vapor phase, the reaction product of the hydrogen sulfide scavenger and the hydrogen sulfide remain soluble in the hydrocarbon fluid, the hydrogen sulfide scavenger contains at least one alpha-amino ether. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the composition includes one item selected from the list consisting of:
 N,N′-oxybis(methylene)bis(N,N-dibutylamine), 
 N,N′-(methylenebis(oxy)bis(methylene))bis(N,N-dibutylamine), 
 and any combination thereof that may include N,N,N′N′-tetrabutylmethanediamine. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which the reaction product of the sulfide scavenging formulation and the hydrogen sulfide do not form a separate fluid layer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of reacting a secondary amine with a formaldehyde equivalent to form at least some of the scavenging formulation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  in which the hydrocarbon fluid is a liquid.