The British Petroleum Company, P.l.c.

Julie A McShea

Philip K Hodgson

Edward J Tinley

Edward J Tinely

Hydrogen sulphide is scavenged from a feedstock comprising crude oil and hydrogen sulphide by adding a compound of general formula ##STR1## to the feedstock. R is an alkyl group containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an aryl group, or an alkyl aryl group wherein the alkyl moiety contains 1 to 18 carbon atoms and L is a leaving group. Preferred scavengers include acetic anhydride and triacetamide.

Removal of hydrogen sulphides

Hydrogen sulphide is scavenged from a feedstock comprising crude oil and hydrogen sulphide by adding a compound of general formula: ##STR1## to the feedstock. X and Y are carbon or nitrogen atoms and the interatomic bond is triple or double as appropriate. Any two or more of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are organic groups containing electronegative functional groups. The remaining two or less of R.sup.1 -R.sup.4 are hydrocarbyl groups, hydrogen atoms or zero. Preferred scavengers include di-isopropylazo dicarboxylate and dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate.

Growing community of inventors

Shepperton, United Kingdom

Julie A McShea