Use of acid buffers as metal and amine removal aids

Abstract

A process for reducing contaminants during a desalting process is disclosed. The process may comprise providing an acid buffer solution; providing a contaminated stream; and mixing the acid buffer solution with the contaminated stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for reducing contaminants during a desalting process comprising:
 (a) providing an acid buffer solution;   (b) providing a contaminated stream; and   (c) mixing said acid buffer solution with said contaminated stream.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said desalting process is in a crude oil refinery. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said acid buffer solution comprises at least one acid selected from the group consisting of citric acid, glycine, 2(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and phosphoric acid. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein said acid buffer solution further comprises at least one counter-ion selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and ammonium. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4 , wherein said acid buffer solution comprises citric acid and sodium citrate. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said acid buffer solution has a pH ranging from about 3.0 to 7.4. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein said acid buffer solution has a pH of about 6.5. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said acid buffer solution is present in a range of from about 1 to about 6,000 ppm of said contaminated stream. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein said acid buffer solution is present in a range of from about 100 to about 4,000 ppm of said contaminated stream. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said acid buffer solution is present in a range of from about 500 to about 2,000 ppm of said contaminated stream. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said contaminants comprise metals and amines.