Acid Wash Disulfide Reduction in Petroleum Matrices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately identify and remove disulfides from petroleum matrices, which can cause corrosion in processing equipment, limiting the effectiveness of gas chromatography analysis and refinery operations.
Innovation Solution
A method using an acid wash composition, preferably acetic acid, to selectively react and remove disulfides by reducing them to mercaptans on a zinc surface, with optional use of other reductive metals, in petroleum matrices, enhancing gas chromatography analysis and reducing corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If chemical modifications are used to identify sulfur compounds, then class speciation is improved, but disulfide identification remains difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses zinc metal as an intermediary substance that selectively reacts with disulfides to form mercaptans and zinc disulfide complexes. This intermediary enables the detection and identification of disulfides that were previously difficult to detect using standard GC-SCD or GCxGC methods alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical state of disulfides by reducing them to mercaptans through reaction with zinc metal. This parameter change (from disulfide to mercaptan) makes the compounds detectable and identifiable through their characteristic retention times and sulfur content in chromatographic analysis.
2Quantity of substance
If disulfides are present in petroleum process streams, then sulfur content is high, but corrosion of piping and equipment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful corrosive disulfides into beneficial mercaptans through selective chemical reaction with zinc metal. The disulfides are transformed into less corrosive compounds while the zinc disulfide complex formed can be easily removed, thereby eliminating the corrosion problem while managing sulfur content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts disulfides from the petroleum matrix through selective reaction with zinc metal, removing them from the process stream. The zinc disulfide complex formed is separated from the petroleum products, effectively taking out the corrosive component while preserving the desired sulfur compounds.
3Quantity of substance
If acid wash composition is used to remove disulfides, then disulfide concentration is reduced, but selective removal must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The zinc metal acts as a selective intermediary that reacts preferentially with disulfides over other sulfur compounds. This selectivity is based on the specific chemical reactivity of zinc with the disulfide functional group, allowing reliable selective removal without affecting mercaptans, thiophenes, or other petroleum components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical form of disulfides into mercaptans through controlled reduction. This parameter change allows for selective removal because the resulting mercaptans have different physical and chemical properties that facilitate separation while maintaining the ability to track and quantify the original disulfide content.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately identifies disulfides and reduces their concentration, improving gas chromatography separation and minimizing equipment corrosion in petroleum processing systems.
Implementation Method 1
reacting a petroleum matrix with an acid wash composition... reducing them to mercaptans on a zinc surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a method of selectively reacting and removing disulfides and reducing corrosivity in petroleum matrixes with an acid wash composition.