Methods and compositions for removing phosphorous-containing solids from hydrocarbon streams

Abstract

A demulsifying agent may be added to a hydrocarbon stream in an effective amount where the hydrocarbon stream includes a plurality of phosphorous-containing solids. The demulsifying agent may be added to the hydrocarbon stream at a location that is upstream from a desalter. The demulsifying agent may water-wet at least a portion of the phosphorous-containing solids for subsequent separation of the phosphorous-containing solids from the hydrocarbon stream. The demulsifying agent may be or include but is not limited to at least one maleic acid derivative, such as di-lauryl succinate, dioctyl succinate, di-hexyl succinate, octyl pheno succinate, dodecyl diphenyl succinate, ditridecyl succinate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, diammonium 1-icosyl 2 sulfosuccinate, ammonium 1,4 didecyl sulfosuccinate, dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for separating at least a portion of phosphorous-containing solids from a hydrocarbon fluid having phosphorous-containing solids therein comprising:
 adding a demulsifying agent to the hydrocarbon fluid in an effective amount for subsequent separation of at least a portion of the phosphorous-containing solids from the hydrocarbon fluid; wherein the demulsifying agent water-wets at least a portion of the phosphorous-containing solids; wherein the demulsifying agent comprises at least one maleic acid derivative.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adding the demulsifying agent occurs upstream from a desalter. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the demulsifying agent further comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an emulsion comprises an oil phase and a water phase; and wherein the oil phase comprises the hydrocarbon fluid; and wherein in the adding of the demulsifying agent, the demulsifying agent is added to a phase selected from the group consisting of the oil phase, the water phase, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising separating at least a portion of the water-wet phosphorous-containing solids from the hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising mixing at least a portion of the water-wet phosphorous-containing solids into the water phase of the emulsion after separating at least a portion of the water-wet phosphorous-containing solids from the hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one maleic acid derivative is a C 6 -C 18  sulfosuccinate. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one maleic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of di-lauryl succinate, dioctyl succinate, di-hexyl succinate, octyl phenyl succinate, dodecyl diphenyl succinate, ditridecyl succinate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, diammonium 1-icosyl 2 sulfosuccinate, ammonium 1,4 didecyl sulfosuccinate, dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of the demulsifying agent ranges from about 0.1 ppm to about 200 ppm based on the hydrocarbon fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adding the demulsifying agent is added to the hydrocarbon fluid at a location selected from the group consisting of a crude storage tank, the suction of a transfer pump for subsequent injection into a crude storage tank, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phosphorous-containing solids are selected from the group consisting of metal phosphates, metal phosphites, metal phosphides, phosphonium containing solids, organophosphates, organophosphites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A method for separating at least a portion of phosphorous-containing solids from an oil phase of an emulsion, wherein the method comprises:
 adding a demulsifying agent to the emulsion in an amount ranging from about 0.1 ppm to about 200 ppm based on the emulsion; wherein the demulsifying agent water-wets a plurality of phosphorous-containing solids within the emulsion; wherein the demulsifying agent comprises at least one maleic acid derivative; and wherein the demulsifying agent is added to the emulsion at a location upstream from a desalter; and   separating the water-wet phosphorous-containing solids from the oil phase of the emulsion.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the demulsifying agent further comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the demulsifying agent is added to the oil phase of the emulsion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon stream is selected from the group consisting of crude oil, asphalt, bitumen, shale condensates, decant oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the phosphorous-containing solids are selected from the group consisting of metal phosphates, metal phosphites, metal phosphides, phosphonium containing solids, organophosphates, organophosphites, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one maleic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of di-lauryl succinate, dioctyl succinate, di-hexyl succinate, octyl phenyl succinate, dodecyl diphenyl succinate, ditridecyl succinate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, diammonium 1-icosyl 2 sulfosuccinate, ammonium 1,4 didecyl sulfosuccinate, dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A treated hydrocarbon fluid in a crude storage tank comprising:
 a demulsifying agent comprising at least one maleic acid derivative, wherein the amount of the demulsifying agent ranges from about 0.1 ppm to about 30 ppm based on the hydrocarbon fluid; and   a plurality of water-wet phosphorous-containing solids within the hydrocarbon fluid, wherein the plurality of phosphorous-containing solids are more water-wet as compared to a plurality of phosphorous-containing solids within the hydrocarbon fluid in the absence of the demulsifying agent.   
     
     
         19 . The treated hydrocarbon stream of  claim 18 , wherein the demulsifying agent further comprises a second component selected from the group consisting of naphthalene sulfonate, alkyl diphenyloxide disulfonate, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The treated hydrocarbon stream of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one maleic acid derivative is selected from the group consisting of di-lauryl succinate, dioctyl succinate, di-hexyl succinate, octyl phenyl succinate, dodecyl diphenyl succinate, ditridecyl succinate, dioctyl sulfosuccinate, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, diammonium 1-icosyl 2 sulfosuccinate, ammonium 1,4 didecyl sulfosuccinate, dihexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, sodium dinonyl sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, salts thereof, and combinations thereof.