Process, method, and system for removing heavy metals from fluids
US9023196B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 5, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G2300/205
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Trace element levels of mercury in crude oil are reduced by first passing the crude oil through a filtration device to generate filtered crude having a reduced concentration of mercury and a reject stream having a concentrated mercury level. In one embodiment, the filtration device is back-flushed to generate the reject stream. In another embodiment, the reject stream comprises a portion of the retentate from a cross-flow filter device. The reject stream is treated with an extractive agent selected from tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate; tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium chloride; an oxidizing agent; an organic or inorganic sulfidic compound to extract a portion of the mercury into a water phase for subsequent removal. In one embodiment, the extractive agent is a reductant to convert non-volatile mercury into volatile mercury.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.