| abstract |
The present invention provides a method comprising, in a system comprising a non-aqueous phase and an aqueous phase comprising a hydrocarbon fluid, the partition level of an alkaline contaminant and/or an acid of interest in the aqueous phase and the aqueous phase relative to the pH of the phase. The partition levels of the basic contaminant and acid of interest, and the pH of the aqueous phase, were obtained under representative conditions used in a partition process for removing basic contaminants from hydrocarbon fluids. The correlation can be used to select an acidic environment for a distribution process, to estimate corrosion risk downstream of a distribution process, or to control a distribution process. |