Use of dilute aqueous solutions of alkali polysulfides to remove trace amounts of mercury from liquid hydrocarbons
First Claim
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1. A method for removing mercury from a mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon comprising contacting it with an aqueous dilute solution of alkali metal sulfide salts and separating a liquid hydrocarbon phase substantially free of mercury from said mixture of mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous dilute alkali metal sulfide solution.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of removing mercury from contaminated liquid hydrocarbons (natural gas condensate) by contacting them with a dilute aqueous solution of alkali metal sulfide salt and recovering the treated liquid hydrocarbon. The addition of alkali metal hydroxide enhances the phase separation of hydrocarbon and aqueous solution.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for removing mercury from a mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon comprising contacting it with an aqueous dilute solution of alkali metal sulfide salts and separating a liquid hydrocarbon phase substantially free of mercury from said mixture of mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous dilute alkali metal sulfide solution.
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2. A method for removing mercury from a mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon comprising:
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(a) intimately contacting said liquid hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal sulfide salt for a period of time sufficient for said mercury and said sulfide to react to form insoluble mercury-sulfur compounds; (b) separating said liquid hydrocarbon and said aqueous solution into separate phases; and (c) recovering said liquid hydrocarbon. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 17)
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7. A method for removing mercury from a mercury-contaminated liquid hydrocarbon comprising:
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(a) intimately contacting said liquid hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal sulfide salt for a period of time sufficient for said mercury and said sulfide to react to form insoluble mercury-sulfur compounds; (b) intimately mixing with said aqueous sulfide solution either before or after mixing with said liquid hydrocarbon an alkali metal salt or hydroxide; (c) separating said liquid hydrocarbon and said aqueous solution into separate phases; and (d) recovering said liquid hydrocarbon. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 18. A method for removing mercury from a liquid hydrocarbon comprising enulsifying said liquid hydrocarbon with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal polysulfide and separating a liquid hydrocarbon phase substantially free of mercury from said emulsified mixture of liquid hydrocarbon and aqueous solution of alkali metal polysulfide.
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