Organochlorine Compounds with a Low Boiling Point in Desalted Crude Oil: Identification and Conversion

Organochlorine compounds (OOCs) with a low boiling point in desalted crude oil were identified via gas chromatography (GC) with electron capture detection (ECD), and the possibility of their hydrolysis was evaluated thermodynamically under the conditions of industrial distillation of desalted crude oil. Six fractions, namely, gasoline, aviation kerosene, light diesel, heavy diesel, lubricating oil, and residual oil, were obtained via true boiling point distillation. Chlorine concentration results indicated that OOCs with low and high boiling points were concentrated in the gasoline fraction and residual oil, respectively. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of low-boiling-point OOCs, such as carbon tetrachloride, tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,1,3-tetrachloropropane, and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzenem were performed via GC–ECD. The four types of OOCs coexisted in the gasoline, aviation kerosene, and light diesel fractions. Thermodynamic analysis results indicated that the four types of OOCs could hydrolyze to form corrosive HCl during industrial distillation of desalted crude oil. High-temperature and low-pressure conditions will enhance the OOC hydrolysis.