Process, method, and system for removing heavy metals from fluids
US8728304B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 16, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 3, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2300/205
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Trace element levels of heavy metals such as mercury in crude oil are reduced by contacting the crude oil with an iodine source, generating a water soluble heavy metal complex for subsequent removal from the crude oil. In one embodiment, the iodine source is generated in-situ in an oxidation-reduction reaction, by adding the crude oil to an iodine species having a charge and a reductant or an oxidant depending on the charge of the iodine species. In one embodiment with an iodine species having a positive charge and a reducing reagent, a complexing agent is also added to the crude oil to extract the heavy metal complex into the water phase to form water soluble heavy metal complexes which can be separated from the crude oil, for a treated crude oil having reduced levels of heavy metals.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.