Merox treatment in the oil & gas industry

Merox is an acronym for ‘mercaptan oxidation’, a well-established process to remove mercaptans from refined products such as kerosene and jet fuel, to meet the regulatory requirements for reduced sulfur levels in aviation fuel. The Merox process requires an alkaline environment, which is created by adding caustic or alternatively ammonia to the kerosene feed, and passing the mixture over a catalyst in the reactor. The mercaptans are converted to hydrocarbon disulfides, which are then washed out in various filter beds. Plant processes that remove mercaptans and/or hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) from feedstocks are often called ‘sweetening’ processes - because they remove the sour odours of these sulfurous compounds.

KROHNE has Merox treatment instrumentation available, such as flowmeters for jet fuel and compressed air measurement, as well as for monitoring the lubricating oil and inert sealing gas for the shafts of the pumps. KROHNE guided radar level measurement systems are used to measure the level and interfaces between different liquids in the various process vessels.