Deep Eutectic Solvents for Mercury Capture in Hydrocarbon Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mercury removal technologies in the hydrocarbon processing industry are inefficient, environmentally unfriendly, and costly, particularly due to the complexity and high cost of ionic liquids, and the sensitivity of sulfur-based technologies to moisture, which limits their application in liquid streams.
Innovation Solution
The use of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) for mercury extraction from hydrocarbon feeds, which are easily prepared from inexpensive, environmentally friendly sources, exhibit high selectivity and stability, and can be regenerated, allowing for efficient mercury extraction and separation without generating waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ionic liquids are used for mercury removal, then extraction efficiency is improved, but cost and synthesis complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by replacing complex ionic liquid structures with simpler deep eutectic solvent systems formed by mixing choline chloride with hydrogen bond donors (urea, ethylene glycol, levulinic acid). This parameter change maintains extraction efficiency while dramatically simplifying synthesis and reducing cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available materials (choline chloride, urea, ethylene glycol, levulinic acid) to create effective mercury extraction solvents. These components are commercially available at low cost and can be simply mixed without complex synthesis procedures, making the process economically viable.
2Productivity
If sulfur-based technologies are used for mercury capture, then mercury removal capability is improved, but sensitivity to moisture limits application in liquid streams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical nature of the extraction system from sulfur-based to deep eutectic solvent-based, fundamentally altering the moisture sensitivity parameter. The DES system with choline chloride and hydrogen bond donors shows no sensitivity to moisture, enabling reliable application in liquid hydrocarbon streams while maintaining high mercury removal capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If deep eutectic solvents are used for mercury extraction, then cost and environmental friendliness are improved, but extraction efficiency must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite deep eutectic solvent systems by combining choline chloride (hydrogen bond acceptor) with various hydrogen bond donors (urea, ethylene glycol, levulinic acid). This composite approach leverages the synergistic interactions between components to achieve high extraction efficiency while maintaining low cost and environmental compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replicates the successful mercury extraction performance of expensive ionic liquids using simpler, cheaper deep eutectic solvent systems. The DES compositions are designed to copy the functional properties of ILs (high extraction efficiency) while eliminating their drawbacks (high cost, complex synthesis).
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
Deep eutectic solvents effectively reduce mercury concentrations in hydrocarbon feeds by over 75%, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for mercury removal, with high extraction efficiencies and the potential for solvent recycling.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the hydrophilic deep eutectic solvent with the hydrocarbon feed to form an extraction mixture
Implementation Method 2
mercury sources, such as elemental mercury or mercury halide diffuse into the deep eutectic solvent, where they exhibit a higher solubility
Implementation Method 3
The hydrocarbon product can be easily separated from the hydrophilic deep eutectic solvent due to the low miscibility of the product and solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for the extraction of mercury from a mercury-containing hydrocarbon feed, and to the use of a hydrophilic deep eutectic solvent for the extraction of a mercury source from a hydrocarbon feed.