Presentation Profile
Combating Salt Contamination in Crude Oil: Analysis and Desalting Techniques
Currently Scheduled: 10/14/2025 - 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Room: South Lobby
Main Author
Dr. Raj Shah - Koehler Instrument Company
- Angelina Precilla - Koehler Instrument Company
- William Streiber - Koehler Instrument Company
- Joseph Rombaldi - Koehler Instrument Company
- Vincent Colantuoni - Koehler Instrument Company
- Anthony Schevon - Koehler Instrument Company
- Mojan Jafaripour - Koehler Instrument Company
Abstract:
The presence of inorganic salts in crude oil poses significant operational challenges in the refining process. These salts, primarily composed of sodium, calcium, and magnesium chlorides, can lead to equipment corrosion, heat exchanger fouling, and catalyst deactivation, ultimately reducing efficiency and increasing maintenance costs. Effective detection and removal of these contaminants are essential to maintaining refinery integrity and performance. This poster presents standardized methods for measuring salt content in crude oil, with a focus on ASTM D3230. This test method utilizes an electrical conductivity-based technique to quantify the total amount of dissolved salts, providing rapid and reliable results suitable for both field and laboratory analysis. Accurate salt measurement enables refiners to assess incoming crude quality and determine the effectiveness of pre-treatment processes. In addition to measurement techniques, the poster explores common desalting methods employed before distillation. These include water washing, which dilutes and extracts water-soluble salts, and electrostatic separation, which enhances phase separation and salt removal by applying a high-voltage electric field. Together, these practices support the mitigation of corrosion risks and improve operational efficiency.
