Outline:

 Problems caused by the presence of mercury

 Mercury in natural gas processing

 Methods used to remove mercury from natural gas streams

 Mercury Concentrations in natural gas

Location Hg Concentration (μg /m3)

Algeria 50 – 200
Germany 70 – 3500
Netherlands 5 – 250
Indonesia 0.1 -300
Far East 60 – 190
Norway 0.5 – 30
Iran 1-9
 Problems caused by the presence of mercury in natural gas streams

 Corrosion of aluminum brazed heat exchangers.

 Poisoning of catalysts in petrochemical plants.

 Health hazards

 Soil and air contamination

 Problems caused by the presence of mercury in natural gas streams
Current regulatory status:

Agency Guidelines for Mercury Exposure

OSHA Permissible exposure limit: 0.1 mg/m 3

NIOSH Recommended exposure limit: 0.05 mg/m3
as a TWA for up to 10 hr workday and a
40 hr workweek.
ACGIH Threshold limit value of 0.025 mg/m3 as a
TWA for an 8 hr workday on a 40 hr
workweek.
 Mercury in natural gas processing
 Mercury species in gas product streams:
• The vapor phase contains mercury in elemental form (metallic).

• the hydrocarbon liquid phase might contain several mercury

compounds:

• Dissolved elemental mercury (Hg0)

• Organic mercury such as (RHgR and RHgX where R=CH3,

CH5 etc and X=Cl-) are highly soluble in gas condensate.

 Mercury species in gas product streams:

• Inorganic mercury salts (Hg2+X2, where X is chloride, nitrate,

sulfate…) preferentially partition to the water phase.

• Suspended mercury compounds (HgS, HgSe) and suspended adsorbed

mercury (elemental and organic mercury adsorbed on sand or wax)
 Mercury species in gas product streams:
 Mercury in natural gas processing
 Partitioning of mercury in gas product streams:
A modified Redlich Knowng equation of state was used to
simulate the partitioning of mercury in gas processing plants.
  Mercury in natural gas processing
 Example of partitioning of mercury in gas product streams:

22 Kg/y 3 Kg/y
150 Kg/y
Treated gas
220 Kg/y
Gas Gas
Cooling
Sweetening Dehydration
Raw gas Process
45 Kg/y
Condensates
 Mercury Removal processes
 Low temperature separation
The limiting amount of elemental mercury in gas is determined
by its vapor pressure.

The limiting amount of elemental mercury in liquid is determined

by its solubility which is strongly dependent on temperature.

Hg° condenses to a separate phase during a cooling process if

present at high concentration.
 Low temperature separation
 Low temperature separation
 Mercury Removal processes
 Adsorption on sulfur impregnated activated carbon:

Elemental mercury (Hg°) physically adsorbs on carbon then

reacts with sulfur.

Hg° + C Hg©

Hg(C) + S HgS

The resulting mercuric sulfide is nonvolatile, insoluble.

 Adsorption on sulfur impregnated activated carbon
 Effect of Operating Conditions on Mercury Adsorption
 Adsorption on sulfur impregnated activated carbon
 Effect of Operating Conditions on Mercury Adsorption
 Mercury Removal processes
 Adsorption on metal sulfide bonded to activated carbon or
alumina:

Metal sulfide ( MS, where M=Cu, Mo, Co etc..) is not soluble

in liquid hydrocarbon.

Hg° + CuS HgS + Cu°

 Mercury Removal processes
 Adsorption on silver impregnated molecular sieves
Mercury is captured by an amalgamation reaction:

Hg° + Ag° HgAg

HgAg Hg° +Ag°

Mercury is released when heated in the regeneration cycle

 Adsorption on silver impregnated molecular sieves
 Adsorption on silver impregnated molecular sieves
Hg Desorption Profile during regeneration cycle
 Adsorption on silver impregnated molecular sieves
 Adsorption on silver impregnated molecular sieves
 Mercury Removal processes
 Adsorption on Iodide impregnated carbon
The carbon/iodide system consists of potassium iodide
impregnated carbon with large pore diameter.
Hg° + C Hg(C)
Hg(C) +2I- HgI2 +2e-
XHgX +2I- HgI2 +2X-
 Mercury Removal processes
 Commercial Offerings :

Hg Removal Technology Process Considerations

Process Supplier
Sulfur impregnated Calgon (HCRR) Gas streams free of water
Activated carbon Nucon (Mersorbr) and heavy HC.
Metal sulfide on Nucon (Mersorbr) Removal of Hgo from liquid
activated carbon streams.
Metal sulfide on Johnson Matthey Treat liquid & gas streams.
alumina (PURASPEC)
Ag on a molecular UOP ( HgSIV) Treat liquid & gas streams.
sieve support
Iodide impregnated Calgon (HGR LH) Treat liquid HC stream
carbon without free water.
THE END