Mercaptan Sulphur

What Does Mercaptan Sulphur Mean?

Mercaptan sulphur, also known as mercaptan, can be defined as the class of organic compounds derived from Latin mercurium captans, which are composed of an aryl or alkyl group and a thiol group. Mercaptan sulphur is SH bonded with an alkyl or aryl group and carbon, and the general formula is R-SH or C-SH, where R represents the alkyl or aryl group, and C represents carbon. These organic compounds are also known as thiols because of the strong bond between the thiolate group and mercury compounds.

Corrosionpedia Explains Mercaptan Sulphur

Mercaptan sulphur is generally present in crude petroleum in the form of methyl mercaptan, which is produced during the microorganic decomposition of animal and vegetable matter. However, significant amounts of mercaptan concentration in crude oil and hydrocarbon condensates is not at all favorable for the oil and gas industry because of its ability to corrode the stainless steel and alloys used in oil and gas infrastructure.

Different types of mercaptans are present in crude oil:

• Methyl mercaptan, also called as methanethiol (CH₃SH)
• Ethyl mercaptan / ethanethiol (CH₃CH₂SH)
• Propyl mercaptan / propanethiol (CH₃CH₂CH₂SH)