Use of peroxyacids/hydrogen peroxide for removal of metal components from petroleum and hydrocarbon streams for downstream applications

Abstract

Methods for the use of peroxyacid for enhancing downstream processes through the enhanced removal of fine particulates from petroleum oils and refinery feedstocks and/or streams are disclosed. The methods beneficially minimize fouling and improve waste water quality. Methods for mitigating heavy metal concentrations in petroleum oil and for preventing solid loading in various streams resulting from use of a metal based H 2 S scavenger, aluminum and/or zinc salts, or other commonly applied metal-based additives are also disclosed. In addition, methods for enhancing coke quality by the contaminant removal, reducing bacteria in slop oil and crude tanks, as well as reducing downstream catalyst poisoning and prolonging catalyst lifetimes are also disclosed. The compositions for use in the methods are provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing particulates in petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstocks which comprises the steps of:
 mixing petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock with water to form an emulsion comprising a hydrocarbon phase and a water phase;   adding a peroxyacid composition to the emulsion, wherein the peroxyacid causes the particulates to move from the hydrocarbon phase into the water phase; and   separating the hydrocarbon phase from the water phase to remove the particulates and the peroxyacid composition from the emulsion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peroxyacid oxidizes and chelates the particulates in the emulsion. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particulates are soluble and particulate metal complexes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the metal complexes are organometallic complexes and metal-based particulates. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the particulates comprise one or more of iron, zinc, nickel, vanadium, aluminum, barium, chromium, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, strontium, titanium, sodium, potassium, calcium, and silicon. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particulates are one or more of chloride, sulfur, oxides, and sulfides. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peroxyacid composition comprises a C1-C22 peroxyacid, a C1-C22 carboxylic acid, and hydrogen peroxide. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the peroxyacid is at least one of peroxyformic, peroxyacetic, peroxypropionic, peroxybutanoic, peroxypentanoic, peroxyhexanoic, peroxyheptanoic, peroxyoctanoic, peroxynonanoic, peroxydecanoic, peroxyundecanoic, peroxydodecanoic, or the peroxyacids of their branched chain isomers, peroxylactic, peroxymaleic, peroxyascorbic, peroxyhydroxyacetic, peroxyoxalic, peroxymalonic, peroxysuccinic, peroxyglutaric, peroxyadipic, peroxypimelic and peroxysubric acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least 100 ppm of the peroxyacid is added to the emulsion. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein up to about 10,000 ppm of the peroxyacid is added to the emulsion. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one additional agent that is a solvent, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion breaker or demulsifier, a scale inhibitor, metal chelant, and/or wetting agents is added to the emulsion with the peroxyacid composition. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture of petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock in water is resolved in an electrostatic desalting unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding an effective amount of an emulsion breaker or demulsifier to aid in the separation of the oil from the water phase containing the particulates. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising settling the petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock in a tank to enable the water, peroxyacid composition and particulates to settle on the bottom thereof from the petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock is a produced crude oil and is obtained from a pipeline that directs a flow of produced crude oil. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock once separated from the water phase does not contain any peroxyacid composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the petroleum oil and/or hydrocarbon feedstock comprise petroleum oil, crude oil, slop oil, and other hydrocarbon streams from a refinery application. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method does not include the use of phosphoric or phosphorus acids. 
     
     
         19 . An emulsion treatment consisting of:
 petroleum oil, crude oil, slop oil, or another hydrocarbon stream in a refinery application;   a peroxyacid composition for transferring metals and particulates from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase; and   a source of water.   
     
     
         20 . The treated emulsion of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one additional component that is a solvent, a corrosion inhibitor, an emulsion breaker or demulsifier, a scale inhibitor, metal chelant, and/or wetting agents.