Methylmorpholine-N-oxide Decontamination of Sulfur Contaminants

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for decontaminating sulfur contaminants from vessels, such as refineries and petrochemical plants, face challenges including toxicity, environmental restrictions, scalability issues, and cost due to the use of hydrogen sulfide scavengers and strong oxidizers, which can be non-selective and react with hydrocarbon components, leading to increased operational time and expenditures.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution into vessels containing both water and gas layers contaminated with hydrogen sulfide, allowing it to react and remove sulfur contaminants, with optional addition of steam to adjust temperature and increase reaction efficiency, and the presence of iron oxide to catalyze the conversion of sulfur contaminants to harmless forms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hydrogen sulfide scavengers (triazine, acrolein, formaldehyde) are used, then H2S decontamination is achieved, but toxicity and environmental restrictions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecontamination effectivenessVSAvoidtoxicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical nature of the decontamination agent from conventional scavengers (triazine, acrolein, formaldehyde) to a peroxide-based oxidizing composition. This parameter change in chemical mechanism shifts from non-oxidative complexation to oxidative conversion, achieving H2S removal while reducing toxicity and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If strong oxidizers (permanganate, persulfate, ozone, hypochlorite) are used, then sulfur contaminants are converted to harmless water soluble forms, but exothermic reactions and violent reactions with hydrocarbon components occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesulfur contaminant conversionVSAvoidexothermic reaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the oxidation strength parameter by using a peroxide-based composition with controlled oxidation capability. This intermediate oxidation strength avoids the violent exothermic reactions of strong oxidizers while still effectively converting sulfur contaminants to harmless forms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The peroxide-based oxidizing composition acts as an intermediary between strong oxidizers and sulfur contaminants. It provides sufficient oxidation power to convert H2S and iron sulfides while being less reactive toward hydrocarbon components, thus preventing violent reactions and excessive heat generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If strong oxidizers are used for decontamination, then sulfur contaminants are eliminated, but operational time and costs increase due to sequential batch treatments outside storage vessels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesulfur contaminant eliminationVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The peroxide-based oxidizing composition can be applied directly within storage vessels, allowing the system to treat itself without requiring removal to external treatment facilities. This self-service capability eliminates the need for sequential batch treatments outside vessels, significantly reducing operational time and costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Quantity of substance

If conventional scavengers are used, then H2S is tied up as water-soluble compounds, but reaction products may not be water-soluble and scales may form on metal surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveH2S solubilityVSAvoidscale formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical mechanism from non-oxidative complexation to oxidative conversion. This transforms the reaction products into water-soluble sulfur compounds that do not precipitate or form scales on metal surfaces, eliminating the scale formation problem associated with conventional scavengers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This method effectively removes sulfur contaminants from both water and gas layers without generating hazardous byproducts, reducing operational time and costs, and is non-exothermic, thus safer and more efficient than existing methods.

Implementation Method 1

introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide into the water layer; and treating the water layer by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the hydrogen sulfide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

the presence of iron oxide to catalyze the conversion of sulfur contaminants to harmless forms

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

optional addition of steam to adjust temperature and increase reaction efficiency

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS11850551B2Decontamination of sulfur contaminants from a vessel

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 ZYMEFLOW INC

AI summary

A method for treating sulfur contaminants is provided. The method comprises introducing a methylmorpholine-N-oxide solution to a vessel, wherein the vessel comprises a water layer and a gas layer, wherein the water layer and the gas layer comprise the hydrogen sulfide; introducing methylmorpholine-N-oxide into the water layer; and treating the water layer by allowing the methylmorpholine-N-oxide to react with the hydrogen sulfide.