Multi-component scavenging systems

Abstract

A multi-component scavenging system containing at least one ester and at least one electron-deficient organic compound, together with or without one or more optional components such as an aldehyde having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a ketone having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, an ether, a solvent, an alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, an epoxide, an alkyl anhydride, and mixtures thereof, may be used to scavenge contaminants from hydrocarbon and/or aqueous streams. The contaminants scavenged or otherwise removed may include, but are not necessarily limited to, ammonia, primary amines, secondary or tertiary amines, H 2 S, mercaptans, sulfide cyanides, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-component scavenger comprising:
 at least one ester selected from the group consisting of dialkyl malonate, trialkyl citrate, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl acetoacetate, butylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof,   at least one electron-deficient organic compound, and   at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a ketone having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, an ether, an alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, an epoxide, an alkyl anhydride, and mixtures thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-component scavenger of  claim 1  where the electron-deficient organic compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dialkyl maleates, di-oxyalkylated maleates, benzoquinones, alkyl substituted quinones, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-component scavenger of  claim 1  where the at least one ester is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt % and the at least one electron-deficient organic compound is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt %. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-component scavenger of  claim 1  where the at least one additional component is present in the following proportion, if present:
 up to about 80 wt % of the aldehyde, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ketone, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ether, 
 up to about 50 wt % of the alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, 
 up to about 99 wt % of the epoxide, and 
 up to about 99 wt % of the alkyl anhydride. 
 
     
     
         5 . A multi-component scavenger comprising:
 at least one ester selected from the group consisting of dialkyl malonate, trialkyl citrate, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl acetoacetate, butylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof,   at least one electron-deficient organic compound selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dialkyl maleates, di-oxyalkylated maleates, benzoquinones, alkyl substituted quinones, and mixtures thereof, and   at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a ketone having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, an ether, an alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, an epoxide, an alkyl anhydride, and mixtures thereof.   
       where the at least one ester is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt % and the at least one electron-deficient organic compound is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-component scavenger of  claim 5  where the at least one additional component is present in the following proportion, if present:
 up to about 80 wt % of the aldehyde, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ketone, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ether, 
 up to about 50 wt % of the alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, 
 up to about 99 wt % of the epoxide, and 
 up to about 99 wt % of the alkyl anhydride. 
 
     
     
         7 . A treated stream comprising:
 a base component selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon streams, aqueous streams, and mixtures thereof;   a contaminant selected from the group consisting of hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, ammonia, organic amines, cyanides, and combinations thereof; and   a multi-component scavenger in an amount from about 1 to about 10,000 ppm by volume based on the stream to at least partially remove the contaminant from the stream, where the multi-component scavenger comprises:
 at least one ester selected from the group consisting of dialkyl malonate, trialkyl citrate, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, ethyl acetoacetate, butylene carbonate, and mixtures thereof, and 
 at least one electron-deficient organic compound. 
   
     
     
         8 . The treated stream of  claim 7  where the electron-deficient organic compound is selected from the group consisting of acrylic esters, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dialkyl maleates, di-oxyalkylated maleates, benzoquinones, alkyl substituted quinones, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The treated stream of  claim 7  where the at least one ester is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt % and the at least one electron-deficient organic compound is present in the multi-component scavenger in a proportion ranging from about 1 to about 99 wt %. 
     
     
         10 . The treated stream of  claim 7  where the multi-component scavenger comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of an aldehyde having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, a ketone having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, an ether, an alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, an epoxide, an alkyl anhydride, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The treated stream of  claim 7  where the at least one additional component is present in the following proportion, if present:
 up to about 80 wt % of the aldehyde, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ketone, 
 up to about 80 wt % of the ether, 
 up to about 50 wt % of the alkali metal salt of an alkyl or dialkyl phenol, 
 up to about 99 wt % of the epoxide, and 
 up to about 99 wt % of the alkyl anhydride.