Treatment compositions and methods of using same for remediating mercaptans and sulfur compounds in hydrocarbon liquids

Abstract

A liquid treatment composition for remediating and removing mercaptans, H2S and other sulfur based contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, the treatment composition consisting essentially of a carrier solvent and at least one alkoxide compound. The liquid treatment composition may contain no terpene. Further, the liquid treatment composition may include water. The at least one alkoxide compound includes at least one of sodium methoxide and sodium ethoxide.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A liquid treatment composition for remediating and removing mercaptans, H 2 S and other sulfur based contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, the treatment composition consisting essentially of:
 a carrier solvent; and   at least one alkoxide compound.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1  contains no terpene. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising water. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one alkoxide compound includes at least one of sodium methoxide and sodium ethoxide. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a collective content of the at least one alkoxide compound in the liquid treatment composition is in a range of 1-20 wt %, the carrier solvent includes at least one organic liquid, and a content of the at least one organic liquid in the treatment solution is 50-90 vol %. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier solvent includes at least one organic liquid, and the at least one organic liquid includes at least one of methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol and one of N,n-dimethylformamide (HCON(CH 3 ) 2 ), dimethylacetamide (CH 3 CN(CH 3 ) 2 , acetonitrile. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the carrier solvent is methanol; and   the at least one alkoxide compound is sodium methoxide.   
     
     
         8 . A treatment process for remediating and/or removing mercaptans, H 2 S, other sulfur based contaminants and other contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, comprising steps of:
 adding the liquid treatment composition of  claim 1  to a contaminated hydrocarbon liquid being treated at a dosage rate of 1 to 20000 parts per million (ppm) of the treatment composition/volume unit of the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid being treated; and   allowing the treatment composition and the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid to react.   
     
     
         9 . The treatment process according to  claim 8 , wherein step of allowing the treatment composition and the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid to react lasts for at least 15 minutes. 
     
     
         10 . The treatment process according to  claim 8 , wherein the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid is crude oil, a distillate of crude oil or condensate(s) from natural gas. 
     
     
         11 . The treatment process according to  claim 8 , wherein the other contaminants include sulfur, iron and nickel. 
     
     
         12 . A liquid treatment composition for remediating and removing mercaptans, H 2 S, other sulfur based contaminants and other contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, the treatment composition consisting essentially of:
 a carrier solvent liquid;   at least one alkoxide compound;   water; and   no terpene.   
     
     
         13 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one alkoxide compound includes at least one of sodium methoxide and sodium ethoxide. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the carrier solvent includes at least one organic liquid, and the at least one organic liquid includes at least one of methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol and one of N,n-dimethylformamide (HCON(CH 3 ) 2 ), dimethylacetamide (CH 3 CN(CH 3 ) 2 , acetonitrile. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid treatment composition according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon liquid includes one of methanol, ethanol and 1-propanol. 
     
     
         16 . A treatment process for remediating and removing mercaptans, H 2 S, other sulfur based contaminants and other contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, comprising steps of:
 adding the liquid treatment composition of  claim 12  to a contaminated hydrocarbon liquid being treated at a dosage rate of 1 to 20,000 parts per million (ppm) of the treatment composition/volume unit of the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid being treated; and   allowing the treatment composition and the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid to react.   
     
     
         17 . The treatment process according to  claim 12 , wherein the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid is crude oil, a distillate of crude oil or condensate(s) from natural gas. 
     
     
         18 . A treatment process for remediating and removing mercaptans, H 2 S, other sulfur based contaminants and other contaminants from contaminated hydrocarbon liquids, comprising steps of:
 dissolving an alkoxide in a contaminated hydrocarbon liquid at a dosage of at least 0.1% wt/vol; and   allowing the alkoxide to react with the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid.   
     
     
         19 . The treatment process according to  claim 18 , wherein the dosage of the alkoxide dissolved in the contaminated hydrocarbon liquid is in a range of 0.1 to 3% wt//vol. 
     
     
         20 . The treatment process according to  claim 19 , wherein the alkoxide includes at least one of potassium tert-butoxide (KOtBu) an sodium methylate (NaOMe).