Decontamination of Sulfur Contaminants from Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A hydrocarbon treatment system includes a vessel containing a hydrocarbon with sulfur contaminants comprising at least 1000 ppm hydrogen sulfide. In addition, the hydrocarbon treatment system includes a C2-C10 amine oxide present in the hydrocarbon within the vessel. The hydrocarbon treatment system also includes a recirculation stream comprising the hydrocarbon and the C2-C10 amine oxide. The recirculation stream recirculates between about one volume to about ten volumes of the hydrocarbon. Further, the hydrocarbon treatment system includes elemental sulfur formed from reaction between the C2-C10 amine oxide and the hydrogen sulfide and present in the vessel. Moreover, the hydrocarbon treatment system includes a separated stream comprising treated hydrocarbon removed from the vessel with the elemental sulfur separated therefrom.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrocarbon treatment system, comprising:
 (a) a vessel containing a hydrocarbon with sulfur contaminants comprising at least 1000 ppm hydrogen sulfide;   (b) a C2-C10 amine oxide present in the hydrocarbon within the vessel;   (c) a recirculation stream comprising the hydrocarbon and the C2-C10 amine oxide, wherein the recirculation stream recirculates between about one volume to about ten volumes of the hydrocarbon;   (d) elemental sulfur formed from reaction between the C2-C10 amine oxide and the hydrogen sulfide and present in the vessel; and   (e) a separated stream comprising treated hydrocarbon removed from the vessel with the elemental sulfur separated therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the C2-C10 amine oxide is a C2-C8 amine oxide. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the C2-C10 amine oxide is a heterocyclic amine oxide. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 3 , wherein the heterocyclic amine oxide comprises methylmorpholine-N-oxide. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the C2-C10 amine oxide is present in the vessel in a concentration of between about 0.01 weight volume % and about 60 weight volume % of the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon within the vessel comprises a hydrocarbon fluid layer and a hydrocarbon gas layer. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the recirculation stream is heated. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 7 , further comprising a steam stream introduced into the vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the recirculation stream recirculates between about three volumes to about five volumes of the hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the elemental sulfur is separated from the separated stream via centrifugation. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the separated stream has a hydrogen sulfide content reduced to less than 100 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 11 , wherein the separated stream has a hydrogen sulfide content of 0 ppm. 
     
     
         13 . The hydrocarbon treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the elemental sulfur is formed in the presence of iron oxide present in an amount of from about 100 ppm to about 1000 ppm. 
     
     
         14 . A treated hydrocarbon composition, comprising:
 (a) a hydrocarbon; and   (b) elemental sulfur present as a reaction product of a C2-C10 amine oxide and hydrogen sulfide, wherein the hydrogen sulfide content is reduced to less than 100 ppm.   
     
     
         15 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , wherein the hydrogen sulfide content is reduced to 0 ppm. 
     
     
         16 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , wherein the hydrocarbon initially contained at least 1000 ppm hydrogen sulfide prior to treatment with the C2-C10 amine oxide. 
     
     
         17 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , wherein the C2-C10 amine oxide a C2-C8 amine oxide. 
     
     
         18 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , wherein the C2-C10 amine oxide comprises methylmorpholine-N-oxide. 
     
     
         19 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , wherein the elemental sulfur is separable via centrifugation. 
     
     
         20 . The treated hydrocarbon composition of  claim 14 , produced by recirculating between about one volume to about ten volumes of the hydrocarbon with the C2-C10 amine oxide.