Kinetics of Hydrolysis of Chloride Salts in Model Crude Oil

Chloride salts are difficult to remove from heavy crude oils and bitumens. In the presence of steam, the chloride salts form hydrochloric acid, causing significant corrosion in the downstream equipment. The rate and the extent of the hydrolysis reactions for magnesium, calcium, and sodium chloride salts were measured by contacting with flowing steam at 100C to 350C. The extent of hydrolysis was controlled by salt cations and by the external particle area. The non-volatile products of the reactions were metal hydroxychlorides. Intraparticle reaction of the water limited the rate of hydrolysis, therefore, the water of hydration was most reactive.