The invention involves an integrated process in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is treated with a caustic (alkaline) extraction to remove sulfides, disulfides, and mercaptans. These extracted materials are further treated, and are then used to activate hydrotreating catalysts.

Certain zinc-based scavengers can scavenge sulfur compounds from fluids containing one or more hydrocarbons, water and the sulfur compound, but may leave deposits of insoluble zinc sulfide (ZnS) which can be problematic. When the zinc-based scavengers are used together with at least one zinc sulfide deposition preventer, deposition of zinc sulfide can be reduced or eliminated. The sulfur compound may be hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S). Suitable zinc-based sulfur compound scavengers include, but are not necessarily limited to, a zinc carboxylate, a tetramine zinc carbonate, zinc carbonate, zinc ammonium carbonate, zinc chelates, and/or zinc lignosulfonate. Suitable zinc sulfide deposition preventers include, but are not necessarily limited to, sodium salts of a phosphorous-based polymer, polymeric ammonium salts, acrylic sulfonate non-ionic terpolymers, and/or modified acrylic acid polymers.

Certain zinc-based scavengers can scavenge sulfur compounds from fluids containing one or more hydrocarbons, water and the sulfur compound, but may leave deposits of insoluble zinc sulfide (ZnS) which can be problematic. When the zinc-based scavengers are used together with at least one zinc sulfide deposition preventer, deposition of zinc sulfide can be reduced or eliminated. The sulfur compound may be hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2S). Suitable zinc-based sulfur compound scavengers include, but are not necessarily limited to, a zinc carboxylate, a tetramine zinc carbonate, zinc carbonate, zinc ammonium carbonate, zinc chelates, and/or zinc lignosulfonate. Suitable zinc sulfide deposition preventers include, but are not necessarily limited to, sodium salts of a phosphorous-based polymer, polymeric ammonium salts, acrylic sulfonate non-ionic terpolymers, and/or modified acrylic acid polymers.

The invention involves an integrated process in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is treated with a caustic (alkaline) extraction to remove sulfides, disulfides, and mercaptans. These extracted materials are further treated, and are then used to activate hydrotreating catalysts.

The invention involves an integrated process in which a hydrocarbon feedstock is treated with a caustic (alkaline) extraction to remove sulfides, disulfides, and mercaptans. These extracted materials are further treated, and are then used to activate hydrotreating catalysts.

A process for the removal of mercury comprising reacting a sulfide source with HgS solids to increase the size and sedimentation rate of the submicron mercury for removal by filtration or other mechanical processes is described herein.

An embodiment of the invention is the use of monothiols to react with mercury to form dissolved mercury, wherein silica with immobilized thiol groups is added to the dissolved mercury, allowing for removal with a coarse filter.

A process for the removal of mercury comprising reacting a sulfide source with HgS solids to increase the size and sedimentation rate of the submicron mercury for removal by filtration or other mechanical processes is described herein.

An embodiment of the invention is the use of monothiols to react with mercury to form dissolved mercury, wherein silica with immobilized thiol groups is added to the dissolved mercury, allowing for removal with a coarse filter.

Hydroprocessing facilities may operate for extended periods of time before detection of mercury in the inlet facilities, as mercury adsorbs onto the metallic pipelines used to transport the hydrocarbon fluids, e.g., gas, produced waters, from the wells to processing facilities (flowlines). Once the pipelines become saturated with mercury, mercury will breakthrough and be detected at the inlet facilities. A mercury management/control scheme is disclosed wherein a chemical treatment step using aqueous sulfidic solution is integrated into a progressive pigging plan to clean the pipeline, managing mercury accumulation in the pipeline for a reduced mercury concentration in the fluid exiting the flowlines.

Hydroprocessing facilities may operate for extended periods of time before detection of mercury in the inlet facilities, as mercury adsorbs onto the metallic pipelines used to transport the hydrocarbon fluids, e.g., gas, produced waters, from the wells to processing facilities (flowlines). Once the pipelines become saturated with mercury, mercury will breakthrough and be detected at the inlet facilities. A mercury management/control scheme is disclosed wherein a chemical treatment step using aqueous sulfidic solution is integrated into a progressive pigging plan to clean the pipeline, managing mercury accumulation in the pipeline for a reduced mercury concentration in the fluid exiting the flowlines.

A method for producing a sulphided copper sorbent includes the steps of: (i) contacting a sorbent precursor material containing one or more sulphidable copper compounds, with a sulphiding gas stream including hydrogen sulphide to form a sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material, and (ii) subjecting the sulphided sulphur-containing sorbent material to a heating step in which it is heated to a temperature above that used in the sulphiding step and ?110? C., under an inert gas selected from nitrogen, argon, helium, carbon dioxide, methane, and mixtures thereof, the inert gas optionally including hydrogen sulphide. The method provides sulphided copper sorbents that have reduced levels of elemental sulphur.