Quick removal of mercaptans from hydrocarbons

1. A method for scavenging sulfur-containing compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid, the method comprising adding to the hydrocarbon fluid an effective sulfur-containing compounds scavenging amount of at least one disubstituted azodicarboxylate of the formula R 1 OOCN=NCOOR 2 , where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and aromatic groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms.

2. The method of claim 1 where the hydrocarbon fluid is selected from the group consisting of crude oil, naphthas, gasoline, oil field condensates, residual fuels, petroleum distillates, light hydrocarbons, dry gas streams, paraffinic solvents, fuels comprising oxygenated compounds, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 where the effective scavenging amount of disubstituted azodicarboxylate in the hydrocarbon fluid ranges from about 8 to about 20 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compounds.

4. The method of claim 1 where the effective scavenging amount of disubstituted azodicarboxylate in the hydrocarbon fluid ranges from about 8 to about 10 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compounds.

5. The method of claim 1 where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms.

6. The method of claim 1 where the sulfur-containing compounds are selected from the group consisting of H 2 S, mercaptans and combinations thereof.

7. A method for scavenging sulfur-containing compounds from a hydrocarbon fluid, comprising adding to the hydrocarbon fluid from about 8 to about 20 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compounds of at least one disubstituted azodicarboxylate of the formula R 1 OOCN=NCOOR 2 , where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and aromatic groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, where the hydrocarbon fluid is selected from the group consisting of crude oil, naphthas, gasoline, oil field condensates, residual fuels, petroleum distillates, light hydrocarbons, dry gas streams, paraffinic solvents, fuels comprising oxygenated compounds, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof, where it is not necessary that the mixture of the fluid and the scavenger be subjected to any particular temperature necessary to scavenge the mercaptans and/or H 2 S.

8. The method of claim 7 where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms.

9. The method of claim 7 where the sulfur-containing compounds are selected from the group consisting of H 2 S, mercaptans and combinations thereof.

10. A hydrocarbon composition having a reduced concentration of sulfur-containing compounds, where the sulfur-containing compounds are selected from the group consisting of H 2 S, mercaptans and combinations thereof, the hydrocarbon composition comprising:

a hydrocarbon fluid;

at least one sulfur-containing compound;

an effective sulfur-containing compound scavenging amount of at least one disubstituted azodicarboxylate of the formula R 1 OOCN=NCOOR 2 , where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and aromatic groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; where at least some of the additive has reacted with the sulfur-containing compound.

11. The hydrocarbon composition of claim 10 where the hydrocarbon fluid is selected from the group consisting of crude oil, naphthas, gasoline, oil field condensates, residual fuels, petroleum distillates, light hydrocarbons, dry gas streams, paraffinic solvents, fuels comprising oxygenated compounds, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof.

12. The hydrocarbon composition of claim 10 where the effective scavenging amount of disubstituted azodicarboxylate in the hydrocarbon fluid ranges from about 8 to about 20 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compound.

13. The hydrocarbon composition of claim 10 where the effective scavenging amount of disubstituted azodicarboxylate in the hydrocarbon fluid ranges from about 8 to about 10 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compound.

14. The hydrocarbon composition of claim 10 where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms.

15. A hydrocarbon composition having a reduced concentration of sulfur-containing compounds, where the sulfur-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of H 2 S, mercaptans and combinations thereof, the hydrocarbon composition comprising:

a hydrocarbon fluid selected from the group consisting of crude oil, naphthas, gasoline, oil field condensates, residual fuels, petroleum distillates, light hydrocarbons, dry gas streams, paraffinic solvents, fuels comprising oxygenated compounds, biodiesel, and mixtures thereof;

at least one sulfur-containing compound;

from about 8 to about 20 parts by weight based on 1 part as sulfur of sulfur-containing compound of an effective sulfur-containing compound scavenging amount of at least one disubstituted azodicarboxylate of the formula R 1 OOCN=NCOOR 2 , where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups, alkenyl groups and aromatic groups having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; where at least some of the additive has reacted with the sulfur-containing compound, where it is not necessary that the mixture of the fluid and the scavenger be subjected to any particular temperature necessary to scavenge the mercaptans and/or H 2 S.

16. The hydrocarbon composition of claim 15 where R 1 and R 2 are independently alkyl groups having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms.