Petroleum, natural gas, and natural gas condensate can contain low levels of mercury (Hg). The speciation of Hg can affect its behavior during processing, transport, and storage so efficient and safe management of Hg requires an understanding of its chemical form in oil, gas and byproducts. Here, X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the Hg speciation in samples of solid residues collected throughout the petroleum value chain including stabilized crude oil residues, sediments from separation tanks and condensate glycol dehydrators, distillation column pipe scale, and biosludge from wastewater treatment. In all samples except glycol dehydrators, metacinnabar (β-HgS) was the primary form of Hg. Electron microscopy on particles from a crude sediment showed nanosized (<100 nm) particles forming larger aggregates, and confirmed the colocalization of Hg and sulfur. In sediments from glycol dehydrators, organic Hg(SR)₂ accounted for ∼60% of the Hg, with ∼20% present as β-HgS and/or Hg(SR)₄ species. β-HgS was the predominant Hg species in refinery biosludge and pipe scale samples. However, the balance of Hg species present in these samples depended on the nature of the crude oil being processed, i.e. sweet (low sulfur crudes) vs sour (higher sulfur crudes). This information on Hg speciation in the petroleum value chain will inform development of better engineering controls and management practices for Hg.

中文翻译：

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石油价值链特定区域中的汞形态

石油，天然气和天然气凝析液中汞含量可能很低。汞的形态会影响其在加工，运输和存储过程中的行为，因此要有效，安全地管理汞，需要了解其在石油，天然气和副产品中的化学形态。在这里，X射线吸收光谱法用于确定整个石油价值链中收集的固体残留物样品中的汞形态，这些样品包括稳定的原油残留物，分离罐和冷凝乙二醇脱水器的沉积物，蒸馏塔管垢以及废水处理中的生物污泥。 。在除乙二醇脱水剂以外的所有样品中，辰砂（β-HgS）是Hg的主要形式。电子显微镜对粗沉积物中的颗粒进行了观察，结果显示纳米颗粒（<100 nm）形成了较大的聚集体，并证实了汞和硫的共定位。在乙二醇脱水器的沉积物中，有机汞（SR）₂占Hg的约60％，其中约20％以β-HgS和/或Hg（SR）_{4的形式存在}。β-HgS是炼油厂生物污泥和管道规模样品中的主要Hg物种。但是，这些样品中存在的汞种类的平衡取决于所加工原油的性质，即，甜（低硫原油）对酸（高硫原油）。有关石油价值链中汞形态的信息将为开发更好的汞工程控制和管理方法提供信息。