| abstract |
It has been found that compositions containing water-soluble hydroxy acids can be used to remove metals and / or amines or transfer them to a water phase on a hydrocarbon in an emulsion destruction process. Suitable water-soluble hydroxy acids are not particularly limited, but glycolic acid, gluconic acid, C 2 -C 4 alpha-hydroxy acid, polyhydroxy carboxylic acid, thioglycolic acid, chloroacetic acid, the polymer form of the hydroxy acids, Polyglycolic acid esters, glycolate ethers and ammonium salts and alkali metal salts of the above hydroxy acids, and mixtures thereof. The composition may also include at least one mineral acid that lowers the pH of the debase rinse water. Solvents may optionally be included in the composition. According to the present invention, metals and / or amines can be transferred into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry in the aqueous phase. The composition is particularly useful for treating crude oil emulsions and for removing calcium and other metals therefrom. |