Petroleum refinery mercury control
US9441172B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2014 |
| Grant date | Sep 13, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC10G29/02
- WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The mercury in crude oils is managed during the refining process to reduce its occurrence in refined petroleum products as well as in refinery emissions and wastes by converting the mercury, which may typically be present in the crude in elemental, ionic or combined organic (organomercury) forms, by operating the refinery on a blend of crudes comprising a mercury-containing crude of low sulfur content and a high sulfur crude. For optimal mercury control, the refinery should be operated in a high conversion regime, preferably with hydroprocessing (severe hydrotreating, hydrocracking) suitable for converting refractory, non-reactive sulfur compounds in the high sulfur crudes to more reactive forms including, for example, hydrogen sulfide, which will combine with the mercury present from the mercury-containing crude to form solid mercury sulfides which may be removed as solid waste by-products and disposed of in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.