SELECT Hg

Ultra-purification of mercury from natural gas

Mercury is a naturally occurring
contaminant in some hydrocarbons.
It is highly toxic representing a risk to
health and the environment. It can also
be a cause of serious equipment failure
through liquid metal embrittlement (LME)
or amalgam corrosion. Treatment using
SELECT Hg

provides a robust mercury

removal solution, reducing toxicity and
protecting plant and equipment.
Our SELECT Hg products use proven
mercury removal chemistry based on
reactive metal sulfides. These individually
formulated products react with elemental
mercury to form Cinnabar. This versatile
cost effective solution reduces mercury to
extremely low levels and can be tailored to
the operators individual requirements or
specific applications. SELECT Hg products
react with elemental mercury to form a
stable mercuric sulphide. The resulting
spent product can be simply and safely
handled through well established recycling
routes within the metals recovery industry.
SELECT Hg: Ultra-purification of
mercury from natural gas
Protecting your operations
through efficient mercury removal
Features

Reliable, predictable performance

Operating flexibility

Cost effective mercury removal

Low pressure drop

Ultra purification

Simple vessel change-outs

Straight forward disposal of
spent media
Benefits

Protection of valuable downstream
plant and equipment

Protection of downstream processes

Environmental compliance

Reduced toxicity of gas

Simple unmanned operation

Technical support throughout
operation

Warranted performance in service
M-I SWACO purification products are
used in fixed bed processes which are
simple, easy to operate and require
minimal operator intervention.
Product usage is dependent only on
the amount of mercury that passes
through the bed. This economically
matches the need for removal with
variations in system flow conditions
and outlet specifications, regardless
of the total volume or other common
components of the process stream.
The flexibility of the fixed bed
process allows the system to adapt to
variations in process conditions that
may result from changes in operating
requirements or tighter regulations, often
without additional capital equipment
or costly system retrofitting.
Predictable pressure drops, long bed-
life, easy and safe handling, and a simple
reliable operation are a few of the features
of the M-I SWACO fixed bed process.
Our Product Range

SELECT Hg 100 series for removal of
mercury from natural gas.
Mercury is removed by irreversible
chemical reaction with a metal
sulphide. The metal sulphide may be
formed ex-situ or in-situ by the reaction
between a mixed metal oxide and H
2
S,
i.e. a desulphurization reaction.
M
x
O
y
+ H
2
S MS
z
+ H
2
O
Equation 1. Metal Oxide Reaction with H2S
MS
x
+ Hg MS
(x-1)
HgS
Equation 2. Metal Sulphide Reaction with Hg
The most suitable product is selected
dependent upon the process conditions
and the operational parameters
specified by the customer.
M-I SWACO has the resources and
expertise to design purification
treatment solutions to suit a wide
range of customer requirements.
Proprietary modeling software is used
to deliver system designs that are
reliable, effective, and fit for purpose.
The most basic system design is a single
vessel. This requires a temporary bypass or
interruption to the gas flow when replacing
spent media. A lead/lag configuration
provides the greatest operating flexibility,
and facilitates continuous operation
by allowing replacement of the spent
media online. A parallel design is
generally used where pressure drop
is a critical process parameter.
M-I SWACO works with operators
to ensure all requirements are fully
understood and solutions optimized;
the final configuration and design being
determined by process conditions
and system operating philosophy.
Various options are available regarding
media support within the vessel, and
recommendations will be made on
the most suitable arrangement.
Irrespective of the vessel configuration, an
inlet separator or coalescing filter should
be placed upstream to remove free liquids
from the gas stream. This is important as
free liquids entering the bed will have an
adverse impact on system performance.
Drain
19mm Ceramic Balls
Absorbent Bed
6mm Ceramic Balls
19mm Ceramic Balls
50mm Ceramic Balls
Gas In
Gas Out
100mm
Bed Height
100mm
Foam Filter &
+40 Mesh Screen
Floating Mesh Support
100mm
Top Hat Distributor
Vessel ID
25% Sample Point
50% Sample Point
75% Sample Point
Tailored treatment solutions
Schematic of a typical gas treatment vessel
Ensuring treatment performance
Monitoring the performance of the
purification process is straightforward.
Computer modeling provides information
on the predicted performance parameters,
with flow and contaminant level
determining the bed loading. Mercury
levels in the outlet will rise gradually at
the end of the bed life, providing an early
indication of the need for replacement.
This period of gradual increase creates a
self- alarm system that can be incorporated
into routine monitoring to allow planned
and convenient replacement of the product.
Additional monitoring options around the
treatment system envelope include gas
temperature and pressure differential
measurement. These measurements
are used to confirm anticipated design
operating conditions and the impact of
changes that may occur over time.
Engineered technical solutions
Engineering support is tailored to
match operator needs, ranging from
the simple provision of media to a
fully engineered technical solution.
M-I SWACO capability includes:

Basic system design

Media supply

Detailed engineering

Equipment design and fabrication

Media loading, unloading and system
commissioning support

Spent media disposal
M-I SWACO is also uniquely positioned
to offer effective alternative solutions
in existing fixed bed scavenger
systems. Incumbent applications can be
assessed and comparative performance
outcomes provided for review.
Change-outs and disposal
It is recommended that change-outs are
handled by catalyst handling specialists.
Each system and operating environment
is unique, and procedures will require
some variation, based on the requirements
of the operator. M-I SWACO personnel
are available to support on-site activities
as needed. We will provide assistance
in determining the best option for the
recycling/disposal of the spent media,
using well established disposal routes.
Delivering solutions around the globe
Operator Focused Solutions
Quality assurance
and technical support
M-I SWACO SELECT Hg production
processes are ISO 9000 certified and all
products are manufactured to stringent
quality specifications. Custom software
modeling provides predictability and
enables the development of best-
fit system design and operations
for each site. We support the
application through every
step necessary to ensure a
successful process with highly
trained and experienced
technical personnel.
Global research network
M-I SWACO has an active Research
and Product Development program
and a global network of specialist
laboratories where fixed bed absorbent
technology can be safely tested. A
global network of technical centres is
also available with facilities in Houston,
Aberdeen, Stavanger, Dubai and Perth.
These world class facilities ensure that
our customers have immediate access to
the latest state-of-the-art solutions for
the effective removal of contaminants
from gas and light liquid hydrocarbons.
The right people for the job
Customer service is a top priority at
M-I SWACO, where products, systems and
services are backed by a comprehensive
support network focused on delivering
fast, effective and safe on-site services.
From support with media loading, to
unloading and disposal of spent media to
technical support onsite M-I SWACO
delivers its expertise to customers
field locations around the world.
Put SELECT Hg to work for you
To find out more about SELECT Hg
and other purification technologies
available, contact your local
M-I SWACO representative.
2013 M-I L.L.C. All rights reserved.

Mark of M-I L.L.C.

PBR.1966.1301.R1 (E) 750 Digital Print in U.S.A.
This information is supplied solely for informational purposes and M-ISWACO makes no guarantees or
warranties, either expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy and use of this data. All product
warranties and guarantees shall be governed by the Standard Terms of Sale. Nothing in this document
is legal advice or is a substitute for competent legal advice.
Technical Centers
U.S.A.
17998 Chesterfield Airport Road, Suite 215
Chesterfield, MO 63005
Toll-Free: 1.800.726.7687
Europe
Aberdeen, UK
Tel: + 44.1224.285500
Asia Pacific
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: + 603.2161.7655