USE OF PERCARBOXYLIC ACIDS FOR SCALE PREVENTION IN TREATMENT SYSTEMS

• US 20160176735A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: EPPS, BRIAN, BALASUBRAMANIAN, RAMAKRISHNAN, LI, JUNZHONG, STAUB, RICHARD, KEASLER, VICTOR
• Granted Patent: US 11,040,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/50 by addition or application of a germicide or by oligodynamic treatment C02F1/4606, C02F1/467, C02F1/76 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/10 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/101 Sulfur compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/12 Halogens or halogen-containing compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2101/203 Iron or iron compound
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/10 from quarries or from mining activities
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/365 from petrochemical industry (e.g. refineries)
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/04 Disinfection
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2303/22 Eliminating or preventing deposits, scale removal, scale prevention C02F1/042, C02F1/4602, C02F5/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/02 Softening water by precipitation of the hardness
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 5/10 using organic substances

Abstract

Methods of employing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions for the prevention of scale formation and in some embodiments the removal of existing scale are disclosed. In particular, the scale inhibition properties of percarboxylic acids of varying chain lengths including C1-C22 provide effective scale inhibition and scale removal or destruction. Methods of employing peroxycarboxylic acid compositions for scale inhibition and/or removal are particularly well suited for treating fluids intended to flow through pipes, namely in the energy industry, water and paper industries, etc. The methods provide suitable scale inhibition replacements and/or additives to known scale inhibitors.

Claims

1-97. -97. (canceled)

98. :

A method for reducing scale formation from a target comprising;

contacting a target with 2 ppm to 50,000 ppm of a C₁-C₂₂ peroxycarboxylic acid composition, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid does not include sulfoperoxycarboxylic acids, wherein the target is contacted at a pH below about 10.5, and wherein the contacting step is for a sufficient amount of time to reduce scale formation; and

reducing said scale formation.

99. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the target comprises a water source in need of treatment to form a treated water source, a water source and a surface in contact therewith in need of treatment to form a treated water source, a water source and at least a portion of a medium, a container, an equipment, a system or a facility for producing, holding, processing, packaging, storing, or transporting pulp, or combinations thereof.

100. :

The method of claim 99, wherein the water source in need of treatment comprises fresh water, pond water, sea water, produced water, tower water or a combination thereof, and is used in oil and/or gas drilling operation.

101. :

The method of claim 100, wherein the water source is a blended water source that comprises fresh water or pond water and reuse water, and comprises at least 1% of reuse or produced water.

102. :

The method of claim 101, wherein the water source or the peroxycarboxylic acid composition further comprises a friction reducer, a corrosion inhibitor or a viscosity enhancer.

103. :

The method of claim 99, wherein the water source comprises from about 2 ppm to about 10,000 ppm of said peroxycarboxylic acid composition.

104. :

The method of claim 99, wherein the water source comprises from about 2 ppm to about 1,000 ppm of said peroxycarboxylic acid composition.

105. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition comprises a C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid, a C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, wherein the C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid comprises from about 1 wt-% to about 60 wt-%, the C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid comprises from about 10 wt-% to about 90 wt-%, and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.5 wt-% to about 25 wt-% of the percarboxylic acid composition.

106. :

The method of claim 105, wherein the C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid comprises peroxyformic acid, peroxyacetic acid, peroxyoctanoic acid, and mixtures thereof.

107. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition is a peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition comprises an ester of polyhydric alcohol and C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, wherein the ester of polyhydric alcohol and C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid comprises from about 50 wt-% to about 99 wt-% and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.1 wt-% to about 50 wt-% of the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition.

108. :

The method of claim 107, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition is provided in a two-part premix.

109. :

The method of claim 108, wherein the premixes for the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition are combined in or at the target in need of scale reduction.

110. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the pH of the target treated with the peroxycarboxylic acid composition is between about 3 and about 10.5.

111. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the scale is a phosphate scale, carbonate scale, chloride scale, sulfate scale and/or combinations thereof found in water sources employed for oil and gas operations, water cooling towers, recreational waters, warewash applications, clean-in-place applications, industrial equipment and process streams, a medium, a container, an equipment, a system or a facility for producing, holding, processing, packaging, storing, or transporting pulp and/or combinations thereof.

112. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the contacting step provides the peroxycarboxylic acid composition to the target for at least about 1 minute and by means of a spray, a fog, or a foam, or by dipping all or part of the target in a composition comprising the peroxycarboxylic acid composition.

113. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the contacting step is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 0°

C. to about 130°

C.

114. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid composition further comprises or is combined at a target with an additional functional ingredient comprising a catalyst, stabilizing agent, pH buffering agent, acidulant, friction reducer, viscosity enhancer, defoaming agent, anti-redeposition agent, bleaching agent, solubility modifier, dispersant, metal protecting agent, corrosion inhibitor, additional biocide, additional scale inhibitor, sequestrant and/or chelating agent, peracid stabilizer, surfactant and/or antimicrobial agent, additional carboxylic acid, emulsion breaker, emulsion stabilizer, additional scale inhibitor such as an iron dissolver, fragrance and/or dye, rheology modifier or thickener, hydrotrope or coupler, buffer, solvent or combinations thereof.

115. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the treated target has reduced scale in comparison to a target that is not treated with the peroxycarboxylic acid composition and/or in comparison with a target treated with a conventional scale inhibitor, wherein the conventional scale inhibitor comprises phosphonates, phosphates, amines, quat amines, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and/or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), phosphonic acid, diacids, phosphate esters, or combinations of the same.

116. :

The method of claim 98, wherein the microbial population in and/or on the target is reduced by at least one log₁₀ and wherein the treatment with the peroxycarboxylic acid further removes iron sulfide from the target.

117. :

A method for dissolving and removing scale from a target comprising;

contacting a target with about 2 ppm to about 50,000 ppm of a C₁-C₂₂ peroxycarboxylic acid composition, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid does not include sulfoperoxycarboxylic acids, wherein the target is contacted at a pH below about 10.5, and wherein the contacting step is for a sufficient amount of time to dissolve and remove scale from a target; and

removing said scale, wherein said scale is an iron sulfide, an inorganic calcium component, or an inorganic sulfate.

118. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the target comprises a water source in need of treatment to form a treated water source, a water source and a surface in contact therewith in need of treatment to form a treated water source, a water source and at least a portion of a medium, a container, an equipment, a system or a facility for producing, holding, processing, packaging, storing, or transporting pulp, or combinations thereof.

119. :

The method of claim 118, wherein the water source in need of treatment comprises fresh water, pond water, sea water, produced water, tower water or a combination thereof, wherein a combination of the water sources is a blended water source that comprises fresh water or pond water and reuse water.

120. :

The method of claim 119, wherein the water source or the peroxycarboxylic acid composition further comprises a friction reducer, a corrosion inhibitor or a viscosity enhancer.

121. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the water source comprises from about 2 ppm to about 1,000 ppm of said peroxycarboxylic acid composition.

122. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition comprises a C₁-C₂ percarboxylic acid, a C₁-C₂ carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide for the removal of iron sulfide.

123. :

The method of claim 122, wherein the C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid comprises from about 1 wt-% to about 60 wt-%, the C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid comprises from about 10 wt-% to about 90 wt-%, and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.5 wt-% to about 25 wt-% of the percarboxylic acid composition.

124. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition comprises a C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid, a C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide for the removal of calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and/or calcium sulfate.

125. :

The method of claim 124, wherein the C₁-C₂₂ percarboxylic acid comprises from about 1 wt-% to about 60 wt-%, the C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid comprises from about 10 wt-% to about 90 wt-%, and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.5 wt-% to about 25 wt-% of the percarboxylic acid composition.

126. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition comprises a peroxyoctanoic acid, an octanoic acid, and hydrogen peroxide for the removal of inorganic sulfate.

127. :

The method of claim 126, wherein the peroxyoctanoic acid comprises from about 1 wt-% to about 60 wt-%, the octanoic acid comprises from about 10 wt-% to about 90 wt-%, and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.5 wt-% to about 25 wt-% of the percarboxylic acid composition.

128. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the percarboxylic acid composition is a peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition comprising an ester of polyhydric alcohol and C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid and hydrogen peroxide.

129. :

The method of claim 128, wherein the ester of polyhydric alcohol and C₁-C₂₂ carboxylic acid comprises from about 50 wt-% to about 99 wt-% and the hydrogen peroxide comprises from about 0.1 wt-% to about 50 wt-% of the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition.

130. :

The method of claim 128, wherein the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition is provided in a two-part premix, and wherein the premixes for the peroxycarboxylic acid forming composition are combined in or at the target in need of scale removal.

131. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the pH of the target treated with the peroxycarboxylic acid composition is between about 3 and about 10.5, and wherein the contacting step provides the peroxycarboxylic acid composition to the target by means of a spray, a fog, or a foam, or by dipping all or part of the target in a composition comprising the peroxycarboxylic acid composition.

132. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the contacting step lasts for at least about 1 minute and is conducted at a temperature ranging from about 0°

C. to about 130°

C.

133. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the treated target has a greater amount of scale removed from the target in comparison to a target treated with a conventional scale inhibitor, wherein the conventional scale inhibitor comprises phosphonates, phosphates, amines, quat amines, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and/or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), phosphonic acid, diacids, phosphate esters, or combinations of the same.

134. :

The method of claim 117, wherein the microbial population in and/or on the target is reduced by at least one log₁₀.