Phillips 66 has been granted a patent for a process that creates an immiscible mixture from a hydrocarbon feedstock and wash water, resulting in three distinct layers. This method effectively removes contaminants, transfers them to a brine layer, and maintains the brine’s pH between 5.5 and 6.5 using an alkalinity modifier. GlobalData’s report on Phillips 66 gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Phillips 66, Microscale biofuel reactors was a key innovation area identified from patents. Phillips 66's grant share as of July 2024 was 56%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Contaminant removal from hydrocarbon using immiscible mixture process

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Phillips 66

The patent US12043804B2 outlines a novel process for treating hydrocarbon feedstocks that contain contaminants. The method involves creating an immiscible mixture by combining a hydrocarbon feedstock with wash water, resulting in three distinct layers: a hydrocarbon layer, a rag layer, and a brine layer. A key aspect of the process is the addition of an alkalinity modifier, which is crucial for reducing emulsions within the mixture and maintaining the pH of the brine effluent between 5.5 and 6.5. The contaminants, which may include salts, acids, amines, and metals, are partially removed from the hydrocarbon layer and transferred to the brine layer, which is subsequently separated to produce a brine effluent.

The patent specifies various options for the hydrocarbon feedstock, including crude petroleum oil and various types of oils, as well as a range of potential wash water sources, such as recycled refinery water and clarified river water. The alkalinity modifier can be selected from a group that includes sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, and ammonium bicarbonate, with recommended concentrations ranging from 100 ppm to 2000 ppm by weight of the immiscible mixture. The process can be implemented either upstream or downstream of a crude oil distillation unit, enhancing its versatility in hydrocarbon processing applications.

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GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.