Detoxification of onium compounds

Details Detoxification of onium compounds Detoxification of onium compounds

2001-12-18

2004-04-20

Hruskoci, Peter A. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Processes

Making an insoluble substance or accreting suspended...

C210S729000, C210S732000, C210S733000, C210S749000, C210S908000, C210S909000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06723249

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to methods and compositions for detoxifying aqueous solutions of onium compounds, and, in one aspect, more particularly relates to methods and compositions for detoxifying aqueous solutions of onium compounds where the treated onium compounds partition into a non-aqueous phase.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known that onium compounds, particularly quaternary ammonium compounds such as quaternary ammonium salts, have found widespread use in a number of applications including, but not necessarily limited to, disinfectants, cleansers and sterilizers, cosmetics (deodorants, dandruff removers, emulsion stabilizers), fungicides, mildew preventatives, antistatic additives, biocides, gas hydrate inhibitors, to increase the affinity of dyes for photographic film, to improve dispersibility in the coatings of pigment particles, to increase adhesion of road dressings and paints, etc. Because onium compounds function as biocides whether or not this is their originally intended purpose, the residual onium compounds when discharged into waste water streams after use will interfere in the biological treatment processes by inhibiting the growth of biomass. Additionally, in situations such as discharging used water directly into the environment, such as into seawater, the discharge of water containing onium compounds may be restricted due to regulations pertaining to the toxicity of such water to marine organisms.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,204,954 concerns the detoxification of residues of quaternary ammonium salt biocides in water using neutralizing amounts of certain anionic monomers.
There remains a need for new compositions for detoxifying aqueous solutions containing onium compounds prior to discharge or wastewater treatment with biomass.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide compositions of matter that will reduce the toxicity of aqueous solutions containing onium compounds.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for reducing the toxicity of aqueous solutions containing onium compounds that can be readily implemented.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide methods and compositions for detoxifying aqueous solutions containing onium compounds that do not form solids and do not foul conduits and processes downstream of the area where the effective anionic polymers are added.
In carrying out these and other objects of the invention, there is provided, in one form, a method of reducing the toxicity of at least one onium compound in an aqueous solution that involves adding to the aqueous solution an additive in an amount sufficient to reduce the toxicity of the onium compound. The treated onium compound partitions into a non-aqueous phase. The method also involves removing the non-aqueous phase from the aqueous solution. The additive may be a compound including one or more aromatic carboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, organophosphonic acids, phenolic compounds, ether sulfates, phosphoric acid esters, sulfonated fatty acids, sulfated fatty acids, oligocarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof. Alkali metal salts of these compounds and amine salts of these compounds are also acceptable additives. A separate non-aqueous phase may be added to the aqueous solution either before, during or after the additive is introduced to facilitate separation of the treated onium compound from the aqueous solution.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It has been discovered that onium compounds and the additives of this invention interact or form complexes or ion pair that reduces the toxicity of the aqueous solution where the onium compounds are present. The invention relates to methods and compositions for inhibiting, reducing, retarding, mitigating, controlling and minimizing the toxicity of aqueous solutions or otherwise pure water containing onium compounds. While it may be possible for the methods and compositions of this invention to completely remove, eliminate, eradicate and/or abolish any toxic effects of the onium compounds in the aqueous solutions or water, it will be appreciated that any reduction, retardation, mitigation, control, and minimization of any toxic effect of the solutions or water using the compositions and methods of this invention is considered a successful accomplishment or achievement of the intended goals and purposes of the invention. Further, the invention is not limited to any particular mechanism or explanation as to why the particular additives work to separate the onium compounds from aqueous solutions, even though in one non-limiting embodiment there is some thought that the additives complex or form pairs with the onium compounds. The net result is to reduce the concentration of the onium compound in the aqueous solution upon discharge to the environment and thus reduce the toxicity of the aqueous stream.
It will further be appreciated that the term “aqueous solutions” refer to any aqueous solution and includes, but is not limited to, solutions where the only other compound besides the onium compound is pure water “Aqueous solutions” include, but are not necessarily limited to brines, water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, suspensions, and other combinations of hydrocarbons and water, and include mixtures where gas may be present.
The methods and compositions of this invention are not necessarily limited to the particular nature of the aqueous solutions or water treated, but may be applied to any aqueous solutions or water containing onium compounds, including but not necessarily limited to, aqueous solutions obtained from oil and gas production, for example those treated with onium compounds to inhibit gas hydrates from forming, aqueous solutions containing onium compounds as biocides, aqueous solutions containing onium compounds used as fungicides, aqueous solutions containing onium compounds used as disinfectants, cleansers and sterilizers and the like, etc.
The method of the present invention involves contacting a suitable aqueous solution containing at least one onium compound with an effective amount of an inventive additive to reduce the toxicity of the aqueous solution, where the aqueous solution containing at least one onium compound under the same conditions exhibits some toxic effects to at least one species.
The contacting may be achieved by a number ways, including mixing, blending with mechanical mixing equipment or devices, stationary mixing setup or equipment, magnetic mixing or other suitable methods, other equipment and means known to one skilled in the art and combinations thereof to provide adequate contact and/or dispersion of the composition in the mixture. The contacting can be made in-line or offline or both. The contacting may be accomplished simply by injecting the anionic polymer into the aqueous solution. There are no temperature or pressure conditions or restrictions upon the contacting. The aqueous solution may have a non-aqueous phase mixed therewith such as an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion that may be partially or substantially resolved or not resolved at all. As noted, a non-aqueous phase may be added to the aqueous solution before, during or after the additive is introduced to facilitate the remove of the treated onium species in the non-aqueous phase. Formulating the onium compound and the anionic additive together allows quat hydrate inhibitor (e.g.) and the anionic detoxification agent to be applied to a system (e.g. producing oil and/or gas) as a single package and does not require separate injection points. Such mixing of the separate non-aqueous phase may be accomplished by any of the contacting techniques described above. However, in another embodiment of the invention, it may be preferred to use several, separate injection points.
Suitable onium compounds for use in the composition for the present invention are defined to have a general structure of the following formula A having a cation with a center atom X and an anion Y
−
:
wherein
R
1
and R
2
each are independently selecte

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Detoxification of onium compounds does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Detoxification of onium compounds, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Detoxification of onium compounds will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3194448