Exxon Research and Engineering Company

Donald F Jacques

Jan Bock

Paul L Valint

Antonio Gutierrez

Stanley J Brois

Darrell W Brownawell

Gary L Behelfer

Thomas M Ferrell

Stephan Ilnyckyj

Novel hydrophobically associating terpolymer compositions containing cationic functionality are described. These water soluble or water dispersible polymers contain both water soluble and water insoluble monomers. The water soluble monomers are ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomers, such as acrylamide (AM), and cationic monomers, such as a salt of an amine base (C), such as 3-methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC), 2-methacrylatoethyltrimethylammonium chloride (METAC) and diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DMDAAC). The hydrophobic or water insoluble monomer is a higher alkyl(meth)acrylamide or alkyl (meth)acrylate (R). These polymers are referred to as CRAM. While the novel compositions of this invention impart unusual properties to water based fluids, they are extremely efficient for clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants and for breaking oil-in-water emulsions.

Hydrophobically functionalized cationic polymers

This invention provides a process for preparing novel hydrophobically associating terpolymers containing cationic functionality which are useful for clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. These water soluble polymers contain both water soluble and water insoluble monomers. The water soluble monomers are acrylamide (AM) and a salt of an unsaturated amine base (C) and the water insoluble monomer is a higher alkyl(meth)acrylamide or alkyl(meth)acrylate (R). These polymers are referred to as CRAM. The process for their preparation relies on solubilizing the water insoluble monomer into an aqueous micellar solution containing one or more surfactants and the water soluble monomers. The surfactants are specifically selected to enable homogeneous dispersion of the hydrophobic monomer(s) in the presence of cationic monomers, such as 3-methacrylamidopropyltrimethylammonium chloride (MAPTAC), 2-methylacrylatoethyltrimethylammonium chloride (METAC), or diallyl dimethylammonium chloride (DMDAAC). Redox or free radical initiators are used to copolymerize both the water soluble and water insoluble monomers forming terpolymers of ethylenically unsaturated amine base salts, alkyl(meth)acrylamides or alkyl(meth)acrylates and acrylamide. These polymers provide exceptional clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. Also, they are very effective for resolving oil-in-water emulsions, such as those found in oil production.

Micellar process for preparing hydrophobically functionalized cationic

A method of breaking an oil-in-water emulsion which comprises the steps of treating said oil-in-water emulsion with at least a de-emulsifying amount of a water dispersible terpolymer formed by polymerization from an acrylamide monomer, a water soluble cationic monomer and a water insoluble, hydrophobic monomer, and separating the formed water phase from the formed phase of terpolymer and the oil.

Oil-in-water emulsion breaking with hydrophobically functionalized

The present invention teaches an improved process for clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants. In addition, the process is useful for breaking or resolving oil-in-water emulsions, such as those produced during oil recovery operations. Both the extent of clean-up based on residual oil left in the waste water and the efficiency of clean-up based on the treat rate of additive have been found to be significantly improved using the novel process of this invention. The novel process involves the use of a low level of a water dispersible terpolymer consisting of acrylamide, acrylic acid or its salts, and alkylacrylamide or alkylacrylate or alkylmethacrylate; or copolymers consisting of acrylamide and alkylacrylamide or alkylacrylate or alkylmethacrylate alone or in combination with a cationic species used to control the charge, usually negative charge reduction to near neutral, of the oil or organic contamination droplets in the emulsion being treated. The process of this invention is effective for the clean-up of waste waters containing organic contaminants and for the breaking of oil-in-water produced emulsions.

Hydrophobically associating polymers for oily water clean-up

Deposit formation on the interior surfaces of structures confining heated hydrocarbon fluids such as refinery units, particularly preheating stages associated with process units such as distillation units, hydrotreaters and thermal crackers, is inhibited by incorporating in the feed stock a small percentage (usually at least about 0.0005 weight percent) of a macrocyclic polyamine formed by cyclodehydration of reaction products of hydrocarbon substituted succinic anhydrides or carboxylic acids with poly 3-amino propyl compounds or by acylation of macrocyclic polyamine and polycyclic polyamines with hydrocarbon substituted succinic anhydride or carboxylic acids. It is desirable in some instances to dissolve additionally in the hydrocarbon fluid such as a feed stock along with the macrocyclic polyamine an oil-soluble dispersant, antioxidant and mixtures thereof.

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Belle Mead, NJ, United States of America

Donald F Jacques