Patent ID: 8728304
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A method for treating a crude oil to reduce its mercury level, comprising: providing a crude oil containing an oil-water emulsion; providing an iodine species having a charge and a reagent, wherein molecular iodine is generated in-situ in the crude oil in an oxidation-reduction reaction between the iodine species having a charge and the reagent; converting at least a portion of mercury in the crude oil to water soluble mercuric iodide in an oil-water emulsion upon contacting the crude oil with the molecular iodine generated in-situ and dissolved in the crude oil; and separating the oil-water emulsion to obtain a water phase containing the water soluble mercuric iodide and a treated crude oil having a reduced concentration of mercury, wherein the iodine species is positively charged or negatively charged, and wherein the reagent functions as a reductant when the iodine species is positively charged, and an oxidant when the iodine species is negatively charged.