A combination of at least one basic compound, such as potassium hydroxide, together with at least one aldehyde donor can synergistically scavenge mercaptans from organic fluids, such as hydrocarbons, where “synergistically effective” is defined as the amount of mercaptans scavenged is greater as compared with a combination where either the basic compound or the reaction product is absent, used in the same total amount.

A combination of at least one basic compound, such as potassium hydroxide, together with at least one aldehyde donor can synergistically scavenge mercaptans from organic fluids, such as hydrocarbons, where “synergistically effective” is defined as the amount of mercaptans scavenged is greater as compared with a combination where either the basic compound or the reaction product is absent, used in the same total amount.

Provided is a composition for removing a sulfur-containing compound present in liquid or vapor, the sulfur-containing compound being hydrogen sulfide, an —SH group-containing compound or a mixture thereof, the composition containing an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde represented by the following general formula (1) as an active ingredient; ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or are connected to each other to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or is connected to R.sup.1 to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Provided is a composition for removing a sulfur-containing compound present in liquid or vapor, the sulfur-containing compound being hydrogen sulfide, an —SH group-containing compound or a mixture thereof, the composition containing an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde represented by the following general formula (1) as an active ingredient; ##STR00001##
wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, or are connected to each other to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms; and R.sup.3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, or is connected to R.sup.1 to represent an alkylene group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

Ionic liquid containing compositions may be used in the production, recovery and refining of oil and gas. In addition, they may be used to treat cooling water and/or to inhibit and/or prevent corrosion of metals.

A process for upgrading a heavy oil, the process comprising the steps of introducing a heavy oil feed to a partial oxidation unit; introducing a water feed to a partial oxidation unit; introducing an oxidant feed to a partial oxidation unit, where the oxidant feed comprises an oxidant; processing the heavy oil feed, the water feed, and the oxidant feed in the partial oxidation unit to produce a liquid oxidation product, where the liquid oxidation product comprises oxygenates; introducing the liquid oxidation product to a supercritical water unit; introducing a water stream to the supercritical water unit; and processing the liquid oxidation product and the water stream in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded product stream, the upgraded product stream comprising upgraded hydrocarbons relative to the heavy oil feed.

A process for upgrading a heavy oil, the process comprising the steps of introducing a heavy oil feed to a partial oxidation unit; introducing a water feed to a partial oxidation unit; introducing an oxidant feed to a partial oxidation unit, where the oxidant feed comprises an oxidant; processing the heavy oil feed, the water feed, and the oxidant feed in the partial oxidation unit to produce a liquid oxidation product, where the liquid oxidation product comprises oxygenates; introducing the liquid oxidation product to a supercritical water unit; introducing a water stream to the supercritical water unit; and processing the liquid oxidation product and the water stream in the supercritical water unit to produce an upgraded product stream, the upgraded product stream comprising upgraded hydrocarbons relative to the heavy oil feed.

Ionic liquid containing compositions may be used in the production, recovery and refining of oil and gas. In addition, they may be used to treat wastewater and/or to inhibit and/or prevent fouling of contaminants onto surfaces.

Ionic liquid containing compositions may be used in the production, recovery and refining of oil and gas. In addition, they may be used to treat wastewater and/or to inhibit and/or prevent fouling of contaminants onto surfaces.

The present invention relates to a method for producing a hydrocarbon, including a step (Y) of converting a reaction product of at least one sulfur compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide and a compound containing a —SH group which are contained in a hydrocarbon with an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde compound into a water-soluble compound in the presence of water, and a step (Z) of separating oil and water.