Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to a system and method to remove hydrogen sulfide from sour water and sour oil. Particularly, hydrogen sulfide is removed from sour water and sour oil without the need for special chemicals, such as catalyst chemicals, scavenger chemicals, hydrocarbon sources, or a large-scale facility. The system and method in the present invention is particularly useful in exploratory oil and gas fields, where large facilities to remove hydrogen sulfide may be inaccessible. The present invention addresses the need for safe and cost-effective transport of the deadly neurotoxin. Particular embodiments involve a system and method that can be executed both on a small and large scale to sweeten sour water and sour oil.

Presented is a method for using an ethyl acetate solvent to remove all or most of the asphaltenes, resins and heavy metals from crude oil. The oil is filtered to remove the precipitants and the permeate is then deasphalted oil, rich in ethyl acetate solvent. The ethyl acetate may be recovered by flashed solvent recovery system and recycled back. Filter elements are regenerated with toluene and recovered by a flashed solvent recovery system.

Presented is a method for using an ethyl acetate solvent to remove all or most of the asphaltenes, resins and heavy metals from crude oil. The oil is filtered to remove the precipitants and the permeate is then deasphalted oil, rich in ethyl acetate solvent. The ethyl acetate may be recovered by flashed solvent recovery system and recycled back. Filter elements are regenerated with toluene and recovered by a flashed solvent recovery system.

The present invention relates to a process for upgrading a petroleum product comprising mixing the petroleum product with an upgrading solution to provide a two-phase mixture consisting of an extract phase and a raffinate phase, wherein the upgrading solution comprises a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent. In other aspects, the invention provides an upgrading solution comprising a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent and uses thereof. Furthermore, an upgraded petroleum product and raffinate phase is provided.

The present invention relates to a process for upgrading a petroleum product comprising mixing the petroleum product with an upgrading solution to provide a two-phase mixture consisting of an extract phase and a raffinate phase, wherein the upgrading solution comprises a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent. In other aspects, the invention provides an upgrading solution comprising a pyrolysis oil and optionally a polar organic solvent and uses thereof. Furthermore, an upgraded petroleum product and raffinate phase is provided.

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the cloud point of a Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction to below 0 C., wherein the method comprises subjecting the Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction to a cloud point reduction step comprising mixing the Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction, which comprises more than 80 wt. % of paraffins and 90 wt. % of saturates, with a solvent mixture (16), wherein the solvent mixture (16) comprises a paraffinic naphtha fraction (7) and a co-solvent (15); and subjecting the solvent treatment mixture (23) to a solvent de-waxing step (17).

The present invention relates to a method for reducing the cloud point of a Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction to below 0 C., wherein the method comprises subjecting the Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction to a cloud point reduction step comprising mixing the Fischer-Tropsch derived fraction, which comprises more than 80 wt. % of paraffins and 90 wt. % of saturates, with a solvent mixture (16), wherein the solvent mixture (16) comprises a paraffinic naphtha fraction (7) and a co-solvent (15); and subjecting the solvent treatment mixture (23) to a solvent de-waxing step (17).

We disclose a process for purification of hydrocarbons, suitable for a wide range of contexts such as refining bunker fuels to yield low-sulphur fuels, cleaning of waste engine oil (etc) to yield a usable hydrocarbon product, recovery of hydrocarbons from used tyres, recovery of hydrocarbons from thermoplastics etc, as well as the treatment of crude oils, shale oils, and the tailings remaining after fractionation and like processes. The method comprises the steps of heating the hydrocarbon thereby to release a gas phase, contacting the gas with an aqueous persulphate electrolyte within a reaction chamber, and condensing the gas to a liquid or a liquid/gas mixture and removing its aqueous component. It also comprises subjecting the reaction product to an electrical field generated by at least two opposing electrode plates between which the reaction product flows; this electrolytic step regenerates the persulphate electrolyte which can be recirculated within the process. The process is ideally applied in an environment at lower than atmospheric pressure, such as less than 1500 Pa. A wide range of hydrocarbons can be treated in this way. Used hydrocarbons such as engine oils and sulphur-contaminated fuels are prime examples, but there are a wide range of others such as hydrocarbons derived from the pyrolysis of a material having a hydrocarbon content. One such example is a mix of used rubber (such as end-of-life tyres) and used oils (such as engine oils, waste marine oils), which can be pyrolysed together to yield a hydrocarbon liquid which can be treated as above, and a residue that provides a useful solid fuel.

Disclosed are a pretreatment method and system for a fraction oil for the production of alkylbenzene, the method comprising: adding a fraction oil, a weak base solution and an inorganic salt solution into a reactor, and leaving same to stand and layering same after the reaction is complete; adding water and an inorganic salt solution into an oil phase for washing with water; extracting same with a polar solvent having a high boiling point, and then adsorbing same with an adsorbent to separate oxygen-containing compounds in the neutral fraction oil; sending the extraction agent containing the oxygen-containing compounds to an extraction agent recovery unit; and then sending the neutral fraction oil to an alkylation reactor for a reaction.

Treatment of hydrocarbon streams, and in one non-limiting embodiment refinery distillates, with reducing agents, such as borohydride and salts thereof, alone or together with at least one co-solvent results in reduction of the sulfur compounds such as disulfides, mercaptans, thiophenes, and thioethers that are present to give easily removed sulfides. In one non-limiting embodiment, the treatment converts the original sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfide or low molecular weight mercaptans that can be extracted from the distillate with caustic solutions, hydrogen sulfide or mercaptan scavengers, solid absorbents such as clay or activated carbon or liquid absorbents such as amine-aldehyde condensates and/or aqueous aldehydes.