It has been discovered that metals and/or amines can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include at least one mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.

It has been discovered that metals and/or amines can be removed or transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble hydroxyacids. Suitable water-soluble hydroxyacids include, but are not necessarily limited to glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C.sub.2-C.sub.4 alpha-hydroxy acids, poly-hydroxy carboxylic acids, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, polymeric forms of the above hydroxyacids, poly-glycolic esters, glycolate ethers, and ammonium salt and alkali metal salts of these hydroxyacids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include at least one mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. A solvent may be optionally included in the composition. The invention permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom.

Disclosed is a method of removing metals from hydrocarbon oil, comprising: supplying a feed including hydrocarbon oil; mixing the feed with an aqueous solution including a metal scavenger to prepare a first mixture; separating the first mixture into a first aqueous solution phase and a first hydrocarbon phase and discharging the separated first aqueous solution phase; mixing the separated first hydrocarbon phase with washing water to produce a second mixture; separating the second mixture into a second aqueous solution phase and a second hydrocarbon phase; and recovering the separated second hydrocarbon phase and recirculating the separated second aqueous solution phase.

Disclosed is a method of removing metals from hydrocarbon oil, comprising: supplying a feed including hydrocarbon oil; mixing the feed with an aqueous solution including a metal scavenger to prepare a first mixture; separating the first mixture into a first aqueous solution phase and a first hydrocarbon phase and discharging the separated first aqueous solution phase; mixing the separated first hydrocarbon phase with washing water to produce a second mixture; separating the second mixture into a second aqueous solution phase and a second hydrocarbon phase; and recovering the separated second hydrocarbon phase and recirculating the separated second aqueous solution phase.

Processes for removing sulfur and nitrogen contaminants from hydrocarbon streams are described. The processes include contacting the hydrocarbon stream comprising the contaminant with lean halometallate ionic liquid an organohalide resulting in a mixture comprising the hydrocarbon and rich halometallate ionic liquid comprising the contaminant. The mixture is separated to produce a hydrocarbon effluent and a rich halometallate ionic liquid effluent comprising the rich halometallate ionic liquid comprising the contaminant.

The invention relates to a process for removing sulfur compounds from a hydrocarbon stream. The hydrocarbon stream is contacted with water, at supercritical conditions and also subjects an effluent hydrocarbon stream to separation techniques. The resulting hydrocarbon stream is substantially free of sulfur oxides, sulfoxides, and sulfones.