Abstract A process for purifying an aqueous stream contaminated with organic sulfonate salts having a carbon number of at least four and for producing purified oil and H2S which process comprises contacting the aqueous stream with an acid to convert the organic sulfonate salt to an organic sulfonic acid, extracting the organic sulfonic acid from the aqueous stream by contacting the aqueous stream with a C6+ hydrocarbon to obtain a contaminated C6+ hydrocarbon stream containing the organic sulfonic acid, and hydrofining the contaminated C6+ stream by contacting the stream, at a temperature between 450* and 900* F. and in the presence of added hydrogen gas, with a hydrofining catalyst. The process can also be applied to aqueous streams containing naphthenate salts.
A process in accordance with claim 1 wherein The acid is sulfuric acid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A process for purifying an aqueous stream contaminated with a naphthenate salt having a carbon number of at least four and producing purified oil and H2O which process comprises contacting the aqueous stream with an acid to convert the naphthenate salt to a naphthenic acid, extracting the naphthenic acid from the aqueous stream by contacting the aqueous stream with a C6+ hydrocarbon to obtain a contaminated C6+ hydrocarbon stream containing the naphthenic acid, and hydrofining the contaminated C6+ stream by contacting the stream, at a temperature between 450* and 900* F. and in the presence of added hydrogen gas, with a hydrofining catalyst to produce H2S and a purified hydrocarbon, and separating said H2S.