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Systems and methods for detection of mercury in hydrocarbon-containing fluids using optical analysis of slug flow

  • US 10,359,412 B2
  • Filed: 09/01/2016
  • Issued: 07/23/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting mercury in hydrocarbon-containing fluid, comprising:

  • a first reservoir storing a sample of said hydrocarbon-containing fluid;

    a second reservoir storing a liquid phase reagent solution comprising nanoparticles having an affinity to mercury suspended as a colloid in the liquid phase reagent solution;

    a fluidic device having a first input port, a second input port, and a flow channel that includes a mixer section upstream from a reactor section, wherein the first input port is fluidly coupled to the first reservoir and receives a flow of the sample of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid delivered from the first reservoir, wherein the second input port is fluidly coupled to the second reservoir and receives a flow of the liquid phase reagent solution delivered from the second reservoir, wherein the mixer section is configured to produce slug flow from the hydrocarbon-containing fluid sample and the liquid phase reagent solution introduced into the first and second input ports, and wherein the reactor section is configured to extract mercury of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid sample where it adsorbs on the nanoparticles of the liquid phase reagent solution to form amalgam particles contained in slug flow that is produced by the fluidic device; and

    an optical analyzer that analyzes the slug flow produced by the fluidic device and determines concentration of mercury in the sample of the hydrocarbon-containing fluid.

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