A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed, the process comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a de-asphalting column, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, where the de-asphalting column comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the de-asphalting column at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a residence time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, the polymerized asphaltenes precipitate from the carbonaceous material in the oil feed, and withdrawing a de-asphalted oil from the de-asphalting column, where the de-asphalted oil is in the absence of the heteropolyacids, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed, where the process for removing asphaltenes is in the absence of added hydrogen gas.

A method of removing a metal contaminant from a light hydrocarbon stream comprises introducing a light hydrocarbon stream into a reactor vessel, the reactor vessel containing an aqueous treatment composition which comprises a treatment agent comprising one or more of the following: an alkali metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkaline earth metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkali metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate; or an alkaline earth metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate, the light hydrocarbon stream having an API gravity of greater than 28 degree determined in accordance with ASTM D 287-12 and comprising a metal contaiminant; contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with the aqueous treatment composition generating a treated light hydrocarbon stream with a reduced level of the metal contaminant; and removing the treated light hydrocarbon stream from the reactor vessel.

A method of removing a metal contaminant from a light hydrocarbon stream comprises introducing a light hydrocarbon stream into a reactor vessel, the reactor vessel containing an aqueous treatment composition which comprises a treatment agent comprising one or more of the following: an alkali metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkaline earth metal salt of a thiocarbonate; an alkali metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate; or an alkaline earth metal salt of a tetrathioperoxy carbonate, the light hydrocarbon stream having an API gravity of greater than 28 degree determined in accordance with ASTM D 287-12 and comprising a metal contaiminant; contacting the light hydrocarbon stream with the aqueous treatment composition generating a treated light hydrocarbon stream with a reduced level of the metal contaminant; and removing the treated light hydrocarbon stream from the reactor vessel.

A method for scavenging hydrogen sulfides from hydrocarbon or aqueous streams and/or reducing or inhibiting solids or scale formation comprising introducing an additive made up of architectured materials such as star polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and dendrimers that may be used alone or in conjunction with aldehyde-based, triazine-based and/or metal-based hydrogen sulfide scavengers to an aqueous or hydrocarbon stream. A treated fluid comprising a fluid containing hydrogen sulfide and an additive for scavenging hydrogen sulfide or reducing or inhibiting solids and scale formation made up of architectured materials such as star polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and dendrimers. The fluid may further include aldehyde-based, triazine-based and/or metal-based hydrogen sulfide scavengers.

A method for scavenging hydrogen sulfides from hydrocarbon or aqueous streams and/or reducing or inhibiting solids or scale formation comprising introducing an additive made up of architectured materials such as star polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and dendrimers that may be used alone or in conjunction with aldehyde-based, triazine-based and/or metal-based hydrogen sulfide scavengers to an aqueous or hydrocarbon stream. A treated fluid comprising a fluid containing hydrogen sulfide and an additive for scavenging hydrogen sulfide or reducing or inhibiting solids and scale formation made up of architectured materials such as star polymers, hyperbranched polymers, and dendrimers. The fluid may further include aldehyde-based, triazine-based and/or metal-based hydrogen sulfide scavengers.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a reactor, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, introducing a heteropolyacid feed to the reactor, where the heteropolyacid feed comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the reactor at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a reaction time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, where a mixed product comprises the polymerized asphaltenes and a de-asphalted oil, introducing the mixed product to a separator at the end of the reaction time, and separating the mixed product in the separator to produce a de-asphalted oil and a waste stream, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed.

A process for removing asphaltenes from an oil feed comprising the steps of introducing the oil feed to a reactor, where the oil feed comprises a carbonaceous material and asphaltenes, introducing a heteropolyacid feed to the reactor, where the heteropolyacid feed comprises a heteropolyacid, operating the reactor at a reaction temperature and a reaction pressure for a reaction time such that the heteropolyacid is operable to catalyze an acid catalyzed polymerization reaction of the asphaltenes to produce polymerized asphaltenes, where a mixed product comprises the polymerized asphaltenes and a de-asphalted oil, introducing the mixed product to a separator at the end of the reaction time, and separating the mixed product in the separator to produce a de-asphalted oil and a waste stream, where the de-asphalted oil has a lower concentration of sulfur, a lower concentration of nitrogen, and a lower concentration of metals as compared to the oil feed.

The present application relates to a method to prevent the emission of hydrogen sulphide in the production of hot bitumen or asphalt having a temperature of between 150 and 200 C., wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a bituminous or asphalt mixture, heating the mixture until a temperature of between 150-200 C. and adding an aqueous calcium nitrate solution or a calcium nitrate powder while mixing the bituminous or asphalt mixture. The present application furthermore relates to the use of an aqueous calcium nitrate solution or a calcium nitrate powder during mixing of a bituminous or asphalt mixture in the production of a hot bitumen or asphalt having a temperature of between 150 and 200 C. to prevent the emission of hydrogen sulphide.

The present application relates to a method to prevent the emission of hydrogen sulphide in the production of hot bitumen or asphalt having a temperature of between 150 and 200 C., wherein the method comprises the steps of providing a bituminous or asphalt mixture, heating the mixture until a temperature of between 150-200 C. and adding an aqueous calcium nitrate solution or a calcium nitrate powder while mixing the bituminous or asphalt mixture. The present application furthermore relates to the use of an aqueous calcium nitrate solution or a calcium nitrate powder during mixing of a bituminous or asphalt mixture in the production of a hot bitumen or asphalt having a temperature of between 150 and 200 C. to prevent the emission of hydrogen sulphide.

The systems and methods reduce the total acid number (TAN) in crude oil. The crude oil, that includes naphthenic acid, is mixed with at least a caustic solution (e.g., sodium hydroxide) to produce a mixture. After mixing, the mixture is pumped to an atomizing tank. The mixture is spray-atomized in the mixing tank to produce a condensed liquid state of the crude oil that settles at the bottom of the atomizer tank and to produce minute droplets (e.g. mist, fog or the like) of the caustic. The minute droplets interact with and neutralize the naphthenic acid in the condensed liquid state of the crude oil for a predefined period of time. As a result, the resulting crude oil in the bottom of the atomizer tank has a reduced TAN and includes salt water. Additionally, the resulting crude oil has a water concentration that does not exceed 0.5%.