Borohydrides to inhibit polymer formation in petrochemical caustic scrubbers
First Claim
1. A method for reducing aldol condensation and subsequent polymer formation during caustic scrubbing of a hydrocarbon stream comprising the step of treating a caustic scrubbing solution with a hydride in an amount sufficient to inhibit aldol condensation in said caustic solution but insufficient to interfere with said caustic scrubbing, wherein said hydride comprises a borohydride of the following structure:
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space="preserve" listing-type="equation">M.sup.+ BH.sub.x (OR.sup.1).sub.4-xwhereinM is selected from the group consisting of an alkali element, a tetraalkylammonium ion or quaternary amine having the structure R24 N+ wherein R2 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between 1-10 carbon atoms;
B comprises boron;
x is between about 1-4; and
R1 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between about 1-10 carbon atoms.
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Abstract
The present invention provides borohydrides that are useful in reducing aldol condensation and subsequent polymer formation in caustic scrubbers. The borohydrides are believed to react with reactive carbonyls yielding more stable alcohols and a salt of the borohydride which remains water soluble, and thus is unlikely to be carried out with the hydrocarbon phase. The borohydrides of the present invention have the potential to reduce reactive carbonyls at a molar ratio as high as about 4:1::carbonyl:borohydride. A preferred borohydride is sodium borohydride (sodium tetrahydroborate).
44 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for reducing aldol condensation and subsequent polymer formation during caustic scrubbing of a hydrocarbon stream comprising the step of treating a caustic scrubbing solution with a hydride in an amount sufficient to inhibit aldol condensation in said caustic solution but insufficient to interfere with said caustic scrubbing, wherein said hydride comprises a borohydride of the following structure:
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space="preserve" listing-type="equation">M.sup.+ BH.sub.x (OR.sup.1).sub.4-xwherein M is selected from the group consisting of an alkali element, a tetraalkylammonium ion or quaternary amine having the structure R24 N+ wherein R2 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between 1-10 carbon atoms; B comprises boron; x is between about 1-4; and R1 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between about 1-10 carbon atoms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for reducing aldol condensation and subsequent polymer formation during caustic scrubbing of a hydrocarbon stream comprising the step of treating said caustic scrubbing solution with a borohydride in an amount sufficient to reduce aldol condensation in said caustic solution but insufficient to interfere with said caustic scrubbing, wherein said borohydride has the following structure:
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space="preserve" listing-type="equation">M.sup.+- BH.sub.x (OR.sup.1).sub.4-xwherein M is selected from the group consisting of an alkali element, a tetraalkylammonium ion or quaternary amine having the structure R24 N+ wherein R2 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between about 1-10 carbon atoms; B comprises boron; x is between about 1-4; and R1 is independently selected from an alkyl group having between about 1-10 carbon atoms; and
,said reactive carbonyls are present in said caustic solution at a molar concentration, and wherein said sufficient amount of said borohydride is at least about 25% of said molar concentration of said reactive carbonyls.
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19. A reaction mixture in a caustic scrubber comprising a molar concentration of reactive carbonyls and at least about 25% of said molar concentration of a borohydride.
Specification