Patent ID: 7514657
Filing Date: 2009-04-07
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. Process for reducing the acidity of a hydrocarbon mixture with a high acid value, comprising: a) heating said hydrocarbon mixture at temperatures of between 120° C. and 450° C, b) directing the heated mixture to a Microwave Treatment Unit (MTU) equipped with a microwave oven, inside which said mixture enters into continuous contact with a fixed stream or mud bed, made up of a microwave absorbent material, under the action of microwave energy in the range of between 1 mm to 30 cm or 1 to 30 GHz, at a temperature of between 260° C. and 450° C., in order to effect an organic acid reaction in said hydrocarbon mixture with a surface made from said microwave absorbent material, under irradiation of microwaves inside said oven; c) continuously removing from said oven, the effluent from the Microwave Treatment Unit (MTU), having a reduced TAN value, for later processing in refining units of a refining system, so that: d) disposing of the microwave absorbent material at the end of the campaign time.