IP Library › Granted Patent US 12686811
Granted Patent B2
US 12686811 · App. 18/375,328 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system

Inventors: Jia Li (Odessa, TX); Jeffrey M. Louis (Montgomery, TX)
Assignee: Terra-Ace Intermediate Holdings, LLC
C09K8/882C09K8/845
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686811
App. No.
18/375,328
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for forming aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry systems may include (1) a liquid phase which may be a suspension comprised of salt, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent and (2) a solid phase which may comprise a water-soluble polymer powder. The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry systems may optimize processing of the suspension package so that it may slurry in low and high salt tolerance polymers, and the finished product can survive over 30 days at an approximately 120-degree Fahrenheit aging temperature, thereby overcoming economic performance and stability challenges through its high flash point, long shelf-life, high-temperature tolerance, and low cost.

Claims (45)

1 . An aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system comprising:

a liquid phase comprising water, one or more inorganic salts, and one or more water-soluble organic solvents;

a solid phase comprising a water-soluble polymer powder or polymer mixer, wherein the amount of the one or more inorganic salts in the liquid phase is greater than the one or more inorganic salt's solubility in water; and

wherein the liquid phase comprises about 45-90% by weight of the polymer slurry system.

2 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the slurry system comprises about 10-53% water by weight, about 10-44.5% of one or more inorganic salts by weight, and about 1-85% of one or more water-soluble organic solvents by weight.

3 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the solid phase comprises about 10-55% by weight of the polymer slurry system.

4 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more water-soluble organic solvent is selected from the group comprising:

triethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 2-butoxyethanol, dimethoxyethane, furfuryl alcohol, methyl diethanolamine, 1,5-pentanediol, propylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene glycol, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.

5 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymer powder is selected from the group comprising:

polyacrylamide, xanthan gum, guar gum, and mixtures thereof.

6 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts is selected from the group comprising:

calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

7 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the polymer slurry system survives over 30 days at an approximately 120-degree Fahrenheit aging temperature.

8 . A method to form an aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system comprising:

dissolving one or more inorganic salts in water to form a salt solution at an elevated temperature that increases the solubility of the one or more inorganic salts;

mixing one or more water-soluble organic solvents into the salt solution at the elevated temperature until the one or more water-soluble organic solvents is fully dissolved into the salt solution;

cooling the salt solution to a second temperature wherein a portion of the one or more inorganic salts are suspended in the salt solution; and

adding a water-soluble polymer or polymer mixer to the suspension to form a slurry; and

wherein the polymer slurry system survives over 30 days at an approximately 120-degree Fahrenheit aging temperature.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts is calcium chloride, the one or more water-soluble organic solvents is glycerin, and the water-soluble polymer is polyacrylamide powder.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the elevated temperature is over 120° F. and the dissolving step releases heat to achieve the elevated temperature.

11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of cooling the salt solution to a temperature of about 100° F.

12 . An aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system comprising:

a liquid phase comprising water, one or more inorganic salts, and one or more water-soluble organic solvents;

a solid phase comprising a water-soluble polymer powder or polymer mixer,

wherein the amount of the one or more inorganic salts in the liquid phase is greater than the one or more inorganic salt's solubility in water; and

wherein the aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 1 , wherein the polymer slurry system survives over 30 days at an approximately 120-degree Fahrenheit aging temperature.

13 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 12 , wherein the slurry system comprises about 10-53% water by weight, about 10-44.5% of one or more inorganic salts by weight, and about 1-85% of one or more water-soluble organic solvents by weight.

14 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more water-soluble organic solvent is selected from the group comprising:

triethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 2-butoxyethanol, dimethoxyethane, furfuryl alcohol, methyl diethanolamine, 1,5-pentanediol, propylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene glycol, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.

15 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 12 , wherein the water-soluble polymer powder is selected from the group comprising:

polyacrylamide, xanthan gum, guar gum, and mixtures thereof.

16 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts is selected from the group comprising:

calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and mixtures thereof.

17 . An aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system comprising:

a liquid phase comprising water, one or more inorganic salts, and one or more water-soluble organic solvents;

a solid phase comprising a water-soluble polymer powder or polymer mixer,

wherein the amount of the one or more inorganic salts in the liquid phase is greater than the one or more inorganic salt's solubility in water; and

wherein the slurry system comprises about 10-53% water by weight, about 10-44.5% of one or more inorganic salts by weight, and about 1-85% of one or more water-soluble organic solvents by weight.

18 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more water-soluble organic solvent is selected from the group comprising:

triethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,2-butanediol, 2-butoxyethanol, dimethoxyethane, furfuryl alcohol, methyl diethanolamine, 1,5-pentanediol, propylene glycol, glycerin, ethylene glycol, glycol ethers, and mixtures thereof.

19 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 17 , wherein the water-soluble polymer powder is selected from the group comprising:

polyacrylamide, xanthan gum, guar gum, and mixtures thereof.

20 . The aqueous based, water-soluble polymer slurry system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more inorganic salts is selected from the group comprising:

calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, ammonium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and mixtures thereof.