In an aspect, a method is disclosed that includes contacting a composition with an aqueous solution to yield a mixture, where the composition includes one or more of animal fats, animal oils, plant fats, plant oils, vegetable fats, vegetable oils, greases, and used cooking oil, about 5 wt. % or more of free fatty acids, about 10 wppm or more of total metals, about 8 wppm or more phosphorus, about 20 wppm or more of nitrogen, and the aqueous solution includes ((NH.sub.4).sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, (NH.sub.4).sub.4EDTA, a monoammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a diammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a triammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a tetraammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, (NH.sub.4).sub.5DTPA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.4EDTA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, a combination of citric acid and a monosodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a disodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a trisodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a tetrasodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.5DTPA, or a combination of any two or more thereof, where the method further includes centrifuging the mixture to yield a first treated composition, wherein the first treated composition has less total metals and less phosphorus than the composition.

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.

A liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization system having at least one processing unit, and preferably an initial and an end processing unit. Each processing unit having a reactor assembly and a sorption system. An aqueous system directs aqueous into the reactor assembly together with liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the two are mixed using shear mixers. An adsorbent system provides adsorbent to the sorption column to adsorb the oxidized sulfur resulting through the mixing of the liquid hydrocarbon with the aqueous. A system having multiple processing units is disclosed, as well as systems for transferring adsorbent and providing aqueous. A plurality of methods is likewise disclosed.

A liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization system having at least one processing unit, and preferably an initial and an end processing unit. Each processing unit having a reactor assembly and a sorption system. An aqueous system directs aqueous into the reactor assembly together with liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the two are mixed using shear mixers. An adsorbent system provides adsorbent to the sorption column to adsorb the oxidized sulfur resulting through the mixing of the liquid hydrocarbon with the aqueous. A system having multiple processing units is disclosed, as well as systems for transferring adsorbent and providing aqueous. A plurality of methods is likewise disclosed.

In an aspect, a method is disclosed that includes contacting a composition with an aqueous solution to yield a mixture, where the composition includes one or more of animal fats, animal oils, plant fats, plant oils, vegetable fats, vegetable oils, greases, and used cooking oil, about 5 wt. % or more of free fatty acids, about 10 wppm or more of total metals, about 8 wppm or more phosphorus, about 20 wppm or more of nitrogen, and the aqueous solution includes ((NH.sub.4).sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, (NH.sub.4).sub.4EDTA, a monoammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a diammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a triammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a tetraammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, (NH.sub.4).sub.5DTPA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.4EDTA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, a combination of citric acid and a monosodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a disodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a trisodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a tetrasodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.5DTPA, or a combination of any two or more thereof, where the method further includes centrifuging the mixture to yield a first treated composition, wherein the first treated composition has less total metals and less phosphorus than the composition.

A liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization system having at least one processing unit, and preferably an initial and an end processing unit. Each processing unit having a reactor assembly and a sorption system. An aqueous system directs aqueous into the reactor assembly together with liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the two are mixed using shear mixers. An adsorbent system provides adsorbent to the sorption column to adsorb the oxidized sulfur resulting through the mixing of the liquid hydrocarbon with the aqueous. A system having multiple processing units is disclosed, as well as systems for transferring adsorbent and providing aqueous. A plurality of methods is likewise disclosed.

A liquid hydrocarbon desulfurization system having at least one processing unit, and preferably an initial and an end processing unit. Each processing unit having a reactor assembly and a sorption system. An aqueous system directs aqueous into the reactor assembly together with liquid hydrocarbon, wherein the two are mixed using shear mixers. An adsorbent system provides adsorbent to the sorption column to adsorb the oxidized sulfur resulting through the mixing of the liquid hydrocarbon with the aqueous. A system having multiple processing units is disclosed, as well as systems for transferring adsorbent and providing aqueous. A plurality of methods is likewise disclosed.

In an aspect, a method is disclosed that includes contacting a composition with an aqueous solution to yield a mixture, where the composition includes one or more of animal fats, animal oils, plant fats, plant oils, vegetable fats, vegetable oils, greases, and used cooking oil, about 5 wt. % or more of free fatty acids, about 10 wppm or more of total metals, about 8 wppm or more phosphorus, about 20 wppm or more of nitrogen, and the aqueous solution includes ((NH.sub.4).sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, (NH.sub.4).sub.4EDTA, a monoammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a diammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a triammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a tetraammonium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, (NH.sub.4).sub.5DTPA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.4EDTA, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.2H.sub.2EDTA, a combination of citric acid and a monosodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a disodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a trisodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and a tetrasodium salt of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, a combination of citric acid and Na.sub.5DTPA, or a combination of any two or more thereof, where the method further includes centrifuging the mixture to yield a first treated composition, wherein the first treated composition has less total metals and less phosphorus than the composition.

Systems and methods for removing elemental sulfur from a hydrocarbon fluid using an adsorbent.