| abstract |
The present invention relates to an activated metal oxide and methods for removing sulfur compounds from fluids, whereby the activated metal oxide includes an amount of metal oxide and an amount of ethoxylated fatty amine, with the ethoxylated fatty amine increasing the rate of reactivity between the metal oxide and the sulfur compounds, which include hydrogen sulfide, carbonyl sulfide, mercaptans, and other organic sulfides. The ethoxylated tallow amines include ethoxylated tallow amine, ethoxylated cocoa amine, ethoxylated oleic amine, ethoxylated soya amine, ethoxylated palmatic amine, ethoxylated steric amine, and combinations thereof. The method involves activating the metal oxide, preferably iron oxide or zinc oxide, with an amount of ethoxylated fatty amine so that when fluids, such as water or liquid hydrocarbons, contact the metal oxide the sulfur compounds are removed. |