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The invention involves the formation of a stable iron (II) oxide and/or hydroxide. Preferably these oxides and/or hydroxides are present as nanoparticles in the 5-10 nanometer range. It has been discovered that such particles can be formed at lower cost and with fewer impurities by using ferrous car

The invention involves the formation of a stable iron (II) oxide and/or hydroxide. Preferably these oxides and/or hydroxides are present as nanoparticles in the 5-10 nanometer range. It has been discovered that such particles can be formed at lower cost and with fewer impurities by using ferrous carbonate (FeCO3) from siderite as compared to known processes from various iron salts such as sulfates and chlorides. The novel nanoparticles are particularly adapted to removing sulfur compounds such as H2S from liquid and/or gaseous streams, such as hydrocarbon streams.

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1. A sorbent useful for removing sulfur compounds from fluid streams comprising: an iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof, wherein the iron in the sorbent is principally ferrous iron;an alkaline fluid capable of stabilizing the iron (II) com

1. A sorbent useful for removing sulfur compounds from fluid streams comprising: an iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof, wherein the iron in the sorbent is principally ferrous iron;an alkaline fluid capable of stabilizing the iron (II) compound and composed of an alkaline compound;wherein the molar ratio of alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) compound is at least about 4:1;wherein the sorbent is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 2. The sorbent of claim 1 wherein the iron (II) compound has a particle size less than 3 micrometers. 3. The sorbent of claim 2 wherein the particle size of the iron (II) compound is less than about 10 nanometers. 4. The sorbent of claim 1 wherein the iron (II) compound is an iron (II) oxide. 5. The sorbent of claim 1 where the iron (II) compound is an iron (II) hydroxide. 6. The sorbent of claim 1 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 7. The sorbent of claim 6 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH. 8. The sorbent of claim 7 wherein the KOH has a molarity of at least about 0.7. 9. A method of forming a sorbent comprising: providing an iron (II) carbonate;providing an alkaline fluid composed of an alkaline compound;mixing the alkaline fluid and iron (II) carbonate in a molar ratio of alkaline compound to iron (II) of at least about 4:1; andheating the mixture to at least 40° C. for a time sufficient to form an iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof, wherein the iron in the sorbent is principally ferrous iron and wherein the sorbent is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 10. The method of claim 9 where the iron (II) carbonate is provided by siderite. 11. The method of claim 9 wherein heat produced from dissolving or diluting the alkaline fluid provides the heating of the mixture to at least 40° C. 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the ratio of alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) carbonate is from about 4:1 to about 6:1. 13. The method of claim 9 where the iron (II) compound produced is an iron (II) hydroxide. 14. The method of claim 9 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH. 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the KOH has a molarity of at least about 0.7. 17. The method of claim 9 wherein the formation of an iron (II) compound is measured by the formation of a black precipitate. 18. The method of claim 9 wherein the heating step lasts for from about 10 to about 20 minutes. 19. The method of claim 9 wherein the alkaline fluid is NaOH and no additional heat is required to heat the mixture to at least 40° C. 20. A sorbent produced according to the process comprising: providing an iron (II) carbonate;providing an alkaline fluid composed of an alkaline compound;mixing the alkaline fluid and iron (II) carbonate in a molar ratio of alkaline compound to iron (II) of at least about 4:1; andheating the mixture to at least 40° C. for a time sufficient to form a black precipitate; wherein the sorbent is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 21. The sorbent of claim 20 where the iron (II) carbonate is provided by siderite. 22. The sorbent of claim 20 wherein heat produced from dissolving or diluting the alkaline fluid provides the heating of the mixture to at least 40° C. 23. The sorbent of claim 20 wherein the black precipitate is an iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, and mixtures thereof. 24. The sorbent of claim 20 where the iron (II) compound produced is an iron (II) hydroxide. 25. The sorbent of claim 20 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 26. The sorbent of claim 25 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH. 27. The sorbent of claim 26 wherein the KOH has a molarity of at least about 0.7. 28. The sorbent of claim 26 wherein the heating step lasts for from about 10 to about 20 minutes. 29. The sorbent of claim 20 wherein the alkaline fluid is NaOH and no additional heat is required to heat the mixture to at least 40° C. 30. A method of removing sulfur compounds from a non-aqueous fluid stream comprising: providing a fluid stream containing one or more sulfur compounds;contacting the fluid stream with an alkaline stabilized iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides, and mixtures thereof;wherein the iron in the alkaline stabilized iron (II) compound is principally ferrous iron and wherein the compound is stabilized with an alkaline fluid with a molar ratio of an alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) compound of at least about 4:1;wherein the alkaline fluid and compound is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the stabilized iron (II) compound has a particle size less than 3 micrometers. 32. The method of claim 31 wherein the particle size of the stabilized iron (II) compound is less than about 10 nanometers. 33. The method of claim 30 wherein the stabilized iron (II) compound is an iron (II) oxide. 34. The method of claim 30 where the stabilized iron (II) compound is an iron (II) hydroxide. 35. The method of claim 30 wherein the alkaline used to stabilize the alkaline stabilized fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein the alkaline is KOH. 37. The method of claim 30 wherein the sulfur compound is H2S. 38. The method of claim 30 wherein the fluid stream is selected from the group consisting of natural gas liquids (“NGL”), crude oil, acid-gas mixtures, carbon dioxide gas and liquid streams, anaerobic gas, landfill gas, geothermal gas, other hydrocarbon streams, and mixtures thereof. 39. The method of claim 38 wherein the sulfur compound is H2S. 40. The method of claim 39 wherein the alkaline is KOH. 41. The method of claim 30 further comprising forming the stabilized iron (II) compound using the method comprising: providing an iron (II) carbonate;providing an alkaline fluid;mixing the alkaline fluid and iron (II) carbonate in a molar ratio of alkaline compound to iron (II) of at least about 4:1; andheating the mixture to at least 40° C. for a time sufficient to form the stabilized iron (II) compound. 42. The method of claim 41 where the iron (II) carbonate is provided by siderite. 43. The method of claim 41 wherein heat produced from dissolving or diluting the alkaline fluid provides the heating of the mixture to at least 40° C. 44. The method of claim 41 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH. 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the KOH has a molarity of at least about 0.7. 47. The method of claim 41 wherein the formation of an iron (II) compound is measured by the formation of a black precipitate. 48. The method of claim 41 wherein the heating step lasts for from about 10 to about 20 minutes. 49. The method of claim 41 wherein the alkaline fluid is NaOH and no additional heat is required to heat the mixture to at least 40° C. 50. The method of claim 41 wherein the ratio of the alkaline fluid to the iron (II) carbonate is from about 4:1 to about 6:1. 51. The method of claim 41 where the stabilized iron (II) compound is an iron (II) hydroxide. 52. A sorbent useful for removing sulfur compounds from fluid streams comprising: an iron (II) oxide compound wherein the iron in the sorbent is principally ferrous iron;an alkaline fluid capable of stabilizing the iron (II) compound and composed of an alkaline compound;wherein the molar ratio of alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) compound is at least about 4:1. 53. The sorbent of claim 52 wherein the iron (II) compound has a particle size less than 3 micrometers. 54. The sorbent of claim 52 wherein the particle size of the iron (II) compound is less than about 10 nanometers. 55. The sorbent of claim 52 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 56. The sorbent of claim 55 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH having a molarity at least about 0.7. 57. The sorbent of claim 52 wherein the sorbent is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 58. A sorbent useful for removing sulfur compounds from fluid streams comprising: an iron (II) compound selected from the group consisting of oxides, hydroxides and mixtures thereof;an alkaline fluid capable of stabilizing the iron (II) compound;wherein the particle size of the iron (II) compound is less than about 10 nanometers. 59. The sorbent of claim 58 wherein the iron (II) compound is an iron (II) oxide. 60. The sorbent of claim 58 wherein the iron (II) compound is an iron (II) hydroxide. 61. The sorbent of claim 58 wherein the alkaline fluid is selected from the group consisting of KOH, NaOH, and NH4OH. 62. The sorbent of claim 61 wherein the alkaline fluid is KOH having a molarity at least about 0.7. 63. The sorbent of claim 58 wherein the sorbent is substantially free of chlorine and sulfate anions. 64. The sorbent of claim 1 wherein the molar ratio of alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) compound is about 6:1. 65. The method of claim 9 wherein the alkaline fluid is mixed with the iron (II) carbonate in a molar ratio of alkaline compound to iron (II) of about 6:1. 66. The method of claim 30 wherein the compound is stabilized with an alkaline fluid with a molar ratio of alkaline compound in the fluid to iron (II) compound of about 6:1.