A process for reducing the naphthenic acidity of petroleum oils or their
fractions is described, said process comprising providing a hydrocarbon
feed 103/203/303 having between 0.1 and 99 wt % of emulsified/dispersed
water in oil, said feed containing salts and a content of naphthenic
acids measured as TAN between 0.1 and 10 mg KOH/g oil; directing the said
petroleum oil feed and emulsified/dispersed water towards an energy
emitter device in the microwave range and submitting said feed
103/203/303 in liquid phase, under pressure between 0.7 and 4.5 MPa at
temperatures between 50.degree. C. and 350.degree. C. to the microwave
radiation, applied in the range of 1 mm to 30 cm to said feed so that the
presence of salts, the applied temperature and the high dielectric
constant of the water droplets make that the heat is absorbed on the spot
by the water and heat said water preferentially to the oil, while the
naphthenic compounds at the interface between the droplets and the oil
catch said heat; effecting the decomposition of the carboxylic acids
responsible for the naphthenic acidity in the petroleum feed at
temperatures around 320.degree. C. and generating CO.sub.2; separating
with the aid of any known device
106/106'/112/117/208/208'/214/219/310/310'/316/321 any gas phase
generated, water and oil; and recovering the hydrocarbon oil stream
108/113/119/210/215/221/312/317/323 having a reduced content in
naphthenic acids. The process is designed to be applied to the reduction
of naphthenic acids in feeds of petroleum oils and their fractions in the
oil production step, in refineries or any industrial installation.