SWEETENING AND TREATING PROCESSES

The figure provided here illustrates the block diagram for sweetening and treating processes.

The term "Treating" refers to processes by which contaminants such as organic compounds containing sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen; dissolved metals and inorganic salts; and soluble salts dissolved in emulsified water are removed from petroleum fractions or streams.

Petroleum refiners have a choice of several different treating processes, but the primary purpose of the majority of them is the elimination of unwanted sulfur compounds. A variety of intermediate and finished products, including middle distillates, gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel, and sour gases are dried and sweetened. Generally the term "sweetening" refers to removal of sulfur related impurities. Sweetening also reduces concentrations of carbon dioxide.