Methods of and formulations for reducing and inhibiting the growth of the concentration of microbes in water-based fluids and systems used with them
View Patent ↗The present invention provides methods and formulations for reducing or inhibiting increase in the concentration of microbes in a water-based fluid. The methods and formulations of the present invention use glutaraldehyde and a hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts, C 1 -C 3 alkyl- and alkenyltris(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts and tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine, in a ratio of hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound to glutaraldehyde in the range of about 2:1 to about 7:1, or about 3.5:1 to about 7.5:1. The methods and formulations of the present invention can be useful in treating water contaminated with aerobic or anaerobic bacteria in oilfield and other industrial applications.
1. A formulation for reducing or inhibiting increase in the concentration of anaerobic microbes in a water-based fluid or a system used with a water-based fluid, the formulation comprising
glutaraldehyde and
a hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound selected from the group consisting of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts, C 1 -C 3 alkyl- and alkenyltris(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts and tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine;
wherein the ratio of hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound to glutaraldehyde is in the range of about 2:1 to about 6:1.
2. The formulation of claim 1 , further comprising water.
3. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound is tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate.
4. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the formulation is substantially free of quaternary ammonium compounds.
5. The formulation of claim 1 , wherein the formulation includes at least one anionic polymer, demulsifier, corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor and/or surfactant.
6. A method of reducing or inhibiting increase in the concentration of anaerobic microbes in a water-based fluid, the method comprising:
contacting the water-based fluid with the composition of claim 1 .
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound is tetrakis)hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the water-based fluid is oilfield or gas field water or fluid, hydrocarbon oil and gas, pulp or paper water or slurry, cooling water, boiler water, industrial process water, ballast water, wastewater, a metalworking fluid, water-based slurry, an ink or tape-joint compound, a water-based household product or personal care product, latex, paint, a coating, or a system used therewith.
9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the combined concentration of glutaraldehyde and hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound in the water-based fluid is in the range of about 5 ppm to about 1500 ppm.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the combined concentration of glutaraldehyde and hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound in the water-based fluid is in the range of about 10 ppm to about 500 ppm.
11. The method of claim 6 , wherein during the contacting step, the water-based fluid is substantially free of quaternary ammonium compounds.
12. The method of claim 6 , wherein during the contacting step, the water-based fluid includes at least one anionic polymer, demulsifier, corrosion inhibitor, scale inhibitor and/or surfactant.
13. The method of claim 6 , wherein the glutaraldehyde and hydroxymethyl-substituted phosphorus compound are added to the water-based fluid at substantially the same time.
14. A method of reducing or inhibiting increase in the concentration of anaerobic microbes in a water-based fluid in an anaerobic environment or in an anaerobic part of a system used with a water-based fluid, the method comprising:
contacting the water-based fluid with the composition of claim 1 .