Mercury removal with amine sorbents

摘要

Methods and apparatus relate to treatment of fluids to remove mercury contaminants in the fluid. Contact of the fluid with an amine that has absorbed a sulfur compound causes the mercury contaminants to be absorbed by the amine. Phase separation then removes from the fluid the amine loaded with the mercury contaminants such that a treated product remains.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
preparing a mixture by introducing a mercury-containing hydrocarbon liquid into contact with an aqueous liquid containing an amine that has absorbed sulfur, wherein the aqueous liquid thereby absorbs mercury; in a mercury removal unit, separating the mixture into a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase; extracting the hydrocarbon phase separated from the aqueous phase to provide a treated hydrocarbon liquid; bypassing the mercury removal unit with a portion of the aqueous liquid containing the amine that has absorbed sulfur and directing the portion into a regeneration unit; in the regeneration unit, desorbing sulfur and mercury from the aqueous liquid containing the amine; and recycling the aqueous liquid containing the amine by directing it from the regeneration unit to a gas stripper unit.