Removal of mercury and mercury compounds from crude oil streams

摘要

A method of removing mercury-bearing species from a hydrocarbon-containing fluid, the method comprising the steps of: i) adding dithiocarbamate polymer to the fluid in an amount such that the number of mercury binding sites in the polymer exceeds that of amount of mercury atoms by at least 10% and ii) removing the mercury-bearing dithiocarbamate polymer with a water / oil separation device, further comprising the step of adding mercury-free water to the fluid before adding the polymer.