The invention relates to removing contaminants from oil using solid sorbents that are comprised primarily of carbon and preferably of coke particles. The coke particles have an affinity for contaminants in oil and are sized to be filtered from oil without plugging. Most contaminants have such a small size that they tend to plug up filters. As the contaminants agglomerate onto the solid sorbent, the resulting particles form a filter cake on conventional filter materials in such a way as to allow the oil to pass on through without significant pressure drop or delay.

The invention relates to removing contaminants from oil using solid sorbents that are comprised primarily of carbon and preferably of coke particles. The coke particles have an affinity for contaminants in oil and are sized to be filtered from oil without plugging. Most contaminants have such a small size that they tend to plug up filters. As the contaminants agglomerate onto the solid sorbent, the resulting particles form a filter cake on conventional filter materials in such a way as to allow the oil to pass on through without significant pressure drop or delay.

Provided here are methods and systems for treatment of a hydrocarbon feedstock fluid during transportation to reduce contaminants harmful to refinery cracking units. Methods include transporting a contaminated hydrocarbon feedstock fluid in a transport container outfitted with removable units containing an adsorbent. The removable units can be exchanged to provide fresh adsorbent, or configured to treat specific contaminants present in the hydrocarbon feedstock fluid.

Provided here are methods and systems for treatment of a hydrocarbon feedstock fluid during transportation to reduce contaminants harmful to refinery cracking units. Methods include transporting a contaminated hydrocarbon feedstock fluid in a transport container outfitted with removable units containing an adsorbent. The removable units can be exchanged to provide fresh adsorbent, or configured to treat specific contaminants present in the hydrocarbon feedstock fluid.

The invention relates to removing contaminants from jet fuel or kerosene using solid sorbents that are comprised primarily of carbon and preferably of coke particles. The coke particles have an affinity for contaminants in jet fuel and kerosene and are sized to be filtered from the liquid fuel without plugging. As the contaminants agglomerate onto the solid sorbent, the resulting particles form a filter cake on conventional filter materials in such a way as to allow the jet fuel or kerosene to pass on through without significant pressure drop or delay.

A process for removing non-volatile, particulate mercury from crudes and condensates is disclosed. Particulate mercury in crudes can be removed by a process of first adding a halogen, such as I.sub.2. The halogen converts at least 10% of the particulate mercury into an oil-soluble mercury compound that cannot be removed by filtration or centrifugation. This oil-soluble mercury compound can then be removed by adsorption onto a solid adsorbent. The process can operate at near ambient conditions. The adsorption step can be carried out by mixing a particulate adsorbent in the halogen-treated crude and then removing it by centrifugation, desalting, filtration, hydrocyclone or by settling.

A process for removing non-volatile, particulate mercury from crudes and condensates is disclosed. Particulate mercury in crudes can be removed by a process of first adding a halogen, such as I.sub.2. The halogen converts at least 10% of the particulate mercury into an oil-soluble mercury compound that cannot be removed by filtration or centrifugation. This oil-soluble mercury compound can then be removed by adsorption onto a solid adsorbent. The process can operate at near ambient conditions. The adsorption step can be carried out by mixing a particulate adsorbent in the halogen-treated crude and then removing it by centrifugation, desalting, filtration, hydrocyclone or by settling.

The present invention provides an adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle including a mesoporous silica nanoparticle having at least one adsorbent functional group bound thereto. The adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle also includes at least one catalytic material. In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using and making the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles. In some examples, the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles can be used to selectively remove fatty acids from feedstocks for biodiesel, and to hydrotreat the separated fatty acids.

The present invention provides an adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle including a mesoporous silica nanoparticle having at least one adsorbent functional group bound thereto. The adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle also includes at least one catalytic material. In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using and making the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles. In some examples, the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles can be used to selectively remove fatty acids from feedstocks for biodiesel, and to hydrotreat the separated fatty acids.

An asphaltene adsorbent media, its method of preparation and a process of removing asphaltenes from hydrocarbon streams are provided. The asphaltene adsorbent media can include activated carbon (AC), metal oxide and clay as the main ingredients and be installed upstream of a processing vessel or located within processing vessels such as a fixed bed reactor. The adsorbent media can be used to remove asphaltenes contained in hydrocarbon fluids within refineries for various processing units, chemical operations, and bio-operations.