A method and system for reducing viscosity in the crude oil and the empowerment of its dehydration process pass crude oil over a core that ionizes-polarizes the crude oil with an electrostatic charge. The metal bar core made of an alloy which includes, a weight of, 40-70% copper, 10-32% nickel, 15-40% zinc, 2-20% tin, and 0.05-10% silver. The metal bar core comprises a plurality of grooves, which allows crude oil to be agitated as it comes in contact with the core, activating an electrostatic charge. The electrostatic charge of the core creates a magnetic catalytic reaction that causes: (1) a molecular separation in the molecular chains within crude oil thereby lowering the viscosity and (2) stretches and twists caused by the molecular ionization-polarization of crude oil, causes that this release accordingly congenital or added water that is trapped in it, resulting in a potentiation of the dehydration of crude oil.

A method and system for reducing viscosity in the crude oil and the empowerment of its dehydration process pass crude oil over a core that ionizes-polarizes the crude oil with an electrostatic charge. The metal bar core made of an alloy which includes, a weight of, 40-70% copper, 10-32% nickel, 15-40% zinc, 2-20% tin, and 0.05-10% silver. The metal bar core comprises a plurality of grooves, which allows crude oil to be agitated as it comes in contact with the core, activating an electrostatic charge. The electrostatic charge of the core creates a magnetic catalytic reaction that causes: (1) a molecular separation in the molecular chains within crude oil thereby lowering the viscosity and (2) stretches and twists caused by the molecular ionization-polarization of crude oil, causes that this release accordingly congenital or added water that is trapped in it, resulting in a potentiation of the dehydration of crude oil.

A method of removing metals and amines from crude oil is provided. The method includes adding an effective metal removing amount of one or more hydroxycarboxylic acids selected from lactic acid and malic acid and salts thereof to the crude oil; adding wash water to the crude oil; mixing the crude oil, acid and wash water to form an emulsion; and resolving the emulsion into an aqueous phase and crude oil having a reduced metals content.

A method of removing metals and amines from crude oil is provided. The method includes adding an effective metal removing amount of one or more hydroxycarboxylic acids selected from lactic acid and malic acid and salts thereof to the crude oil; adding wash water to the crude oil; mixing the crude oil, acid and wash water to form an emulsion; and resolving the emulsion into an aqueous phase and crude oil having a reduced metals content.

It has been discovered that nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers are effective in removing metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase. In particular, the nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers can remove iron contaminants from crude oil into an aqueous phase in a refinery desalter. Suitable nanoparticles can include graphene oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Suitable functionalized polymers include iodododecane-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, imidazole polymers, imidazole copolymers, and/or 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate.

It has been discovered that nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers are effective in removing metal contaminants from a hydrocarbon phase into an aqueous phase. In particular, the nanoparticles and/or functionalized polymers can remove iron contaminants from crude oil into an aqueous phase in a refinery desalter. Suitable nanoparticles can include graphene oxide and/or titanium dioxide. Suitable functionalized polymers include iodododecane-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated-functionalized vinylpyrrolidone/vinylimidazole copolymers, sulfonated polyether ether ketones, imidazole polymers, imidazole copolymers, and/or 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate.

A method for removing hydrocarbons from a solid phase and recovery thereof comprising the steps of

washing the solid phase contaminated with hydrocarbons by means of a composition comprising at least a surfactant so as to obtain a clean solid surface and a hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution,
separating the hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution from the clean solid phase, and
treating the hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution by means of electrocoagulation/electroflotation to recover the hydrocarbons.

A method for removing hydrocarbons from a solid phase and recovery thereof comprising the steps of

washing the solid phase contaminated with hydrocarbons by means of a composition comprising at least a surfactant so as to obtain a clean solid surface and a hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution,
separating the hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution from the clean solid phase, and
treating the hydrocarbon-rich aqueous solution by means of electrocoagulation/electroflotation to recover the hydrocarbons.

A process for optimising the removal of calcium from a hydrocarbon feedstock in a refinery desalting process, the refinery desalting process comprising the following steps: (a) mixing one or more wash water streams with one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams; (b) at least partially separating the wash water from the hydrocarbons in a refinery desalter; and (c) removing the separated water and hydrocarbons from the refinery desalter as one or more desalted hydrocarbon streams and one or more effluent water streams; the process optimisation comprising: (i) providing at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser at at least one point in the refinery desalting process; (ii) measuring the concentration of calcium at the at least one point in the process using the at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser; and (iii) optionally adjusting at least one process condition of the refinery desalting process in response to the calcium concentration measurement in step (ii). An apparatus comprises a desalter; a line through which one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams are passed to the desalter; optionally a line through which one or more wash water streams are passed to the desalter; and one or more x-ray fluorescence analysers configured so as to measure the concentration of calcium in water or hydrocarbons at one or more positions within the apparatus.

A process for optimising the removal of calcium from a hydrocarbon feedstock in a refinery desalting process, the refinery desalting process comprising the following steps: (a) mixing one or more wash water streams with one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams; (b) at least partially separating the wash water from the hydrocarbons in a refinery desalter; and (c) removing the separated water and hydrocarbons from the refinery desalter as one or more desalted hydrocarbon streams and one or more effluent water streams; the process optimisation comprising: (i) providing at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser at at least one point in the refinery desalting process; (ii) measuring the concentration of calcium at the at least one point in the process using the at least one x-ray fluorescence analyser; and (iii) optionally adjusting at least one process condition of the refinery desalting process in response to the calcium concentration measurement in step (ii). An apparatus comprises a desalter; a line through which one or more hydrocarbon feedstock streams are passed to the desalter; optionally a line through which one or more wash water streams are passed to the desalter; and one or more x-ray fluorescence analysers configured so as to measure the concentration of calcium in water or hydrocarbons at one or more positions within the apparatus.