Patent ID: 7497943
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: B01D,C10G,C10L

Abstract:
1. A method of transferring metals and/or amines from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in a refinery desalting process consisting of: adding to a wash water, an effective amount of a composition to transfer metals and/or amines from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase comprising at least one water-soluble hydroxyacid selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C lowering the pH of the wash water to 6 or below, before, during and/or after adding the composition; adding the wash water to crude oil to create an emulsion; and resolving the emulsion into hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase using electrostatic coalescence, where at least a portion of the metals and/or amines are transferred to the aqueous phase.