Scavenger of sulfur compounds for crude oils

The presence of active sulfur compounds in crude oils is undesirable, because, in addition to decreasing the oil's market value, it has high toxicity, generates by-products in combustion that impact the environment, and is related to operational corrosion problems. To minimize and mitigate these impacts, removal of these compounds from the oil can be accomplished by employing substances defined as scavengers, which in contact with the crude oil will decrease the active sulfur content in the oil by removing or converting the species into inert products. Scavengers can be injected directly into the wellhead during oil production or in oil refining pretreatment processes. This review aims to present a comprehensive literature regarding the use of scavenger agents for the treatment of crude oils, in addition to presenting a brief description of the development of new sequestering agents. (author)