Tetra Technologies, Inc.

Lyle H Howard

Raymond D Symens

Surendra Kumar Mishra

Thomas William Polkinghorn

Jeffrey S McKennis

David J Hanlon

Weyman H Dunaway

John A Bain

A method for producing halide brine wherein an alkali and a reducing agent are added to an aqueous fluid having a density greater than 8.30 lb/gal., (0.996 kg/L) water, waste water or sea water for example. The resulting fluid is then contacted with a halogen to form a halide brine. The reaction occurs in a conventional reactor such as a mixing tank.

Method for producing a halide brine

A method for regenerating a used halide fluid comprising a density greater than 9.0 lbs/gal. and containing both soluble and insoluble impurities. This method comprises the steps of (1) adding acid to the used halide fluid so that the pH is within a range of approximately 0 to 10.0; (2) contacting the used halide fluid with halogen to increase the density to at least 10.0 lbs./gal., adjust the desired true crystallization temperature of the fluid and oxidize soluble impurities; (3) adding a reducing agent while maintaining the temperature at a minimum of 10&deg; C.; (4) contacting the fluid with an alkali to neutralize excess acid; and (5) separating any suspended solid impurities from the fluid.

Method for regeneration of used halide fluids

A method for producing zinc bromide from zinc hydroxide contaminated with iron and manganese compounds. The method comprises the step of mixing zinc hydroxide feedstock containing metal impurities with a hydrobromic acid comprising elemental bromine in the presence of a reducing agent to produce an impure zinc bromide solution. The metal impurities are removed from the zinc bromide solution in a two-stage process: the first stage comprises the steps of precipitating iron by maintaining the pH within a range of from about 3.6 to 4.15 and filtering out the insoluble iron compounds. The second stage comprises the steps of acidifying the zinc hydroxide solution and adjusting the pH to a range of 3.8 to 4.3 with a alkalinity source from metal oxide, hydroxide or carbonate to precipitate the manganese compounds. The resulting mixture is filtered and concentrated to form a solution comprising zinc bromide essentially free of iron and manganese compounds.

Method of producing zinc bromide

A method for making zinc bromide from metallic zinc and bromine comprising contacting zinc with bromine dissolved in a reaction solvent containing a metal halide salt. During the practice of this method, the reaction temperature is maintained at less than 60.degree. C. The reaction solvent preferably comprises an alkali, alkaline earth or transition metal halide and the halide salt preferably comprises a chloride or a bromide. One preferred method includes the step of recirculating the zinc bromide product stream back to the reaction vessel. The reaction vessel can comprise either a one stage or a multiple stage reactor. The resulting product stream comprises a high density zinc bromide solution.

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West Memphis, AK, United States of America

Lyle H Howard