Dialkyl-polyalkylamine compositions, process for their preparation and their use
View Patent ↗The application relates to compositions comprising di-fatty-alkyl or -alkenyl polyalkylamines of the general formula (I) or (II), to a process for their preparation which involves a cyanoethylation step and a hydrogenation step, and their use as demulsifiers for oil-in-water emulsions, corrosion inhibitor, fuel additive, anti-scaling agent, asphalt additive, enhanced oil recovery agent for oil-wells, cutting-oil additive, and anti-static agent. The product show good performance combined with a favourable viscosity profile.
1. Di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamine composition which comprises a mixture of polyalkylamines selected from products with formulae (I) and (II),
wherein each R is, independent of the other R, an alkyl or alkylene moiety with 8-22 carbon atoms, n and z are independent of each other either 0, 1, 2, or 3, and when z>0 then o and p are independent of each other either 0, 1, 2, or 3, or derivatives thereof, whereby said mixture comprises a) a total of at least 3% by weight of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z>=1 and products of formula (II) with n>=1, and b) a total of at least 5% by weight of products of formula (I) with n and z=0, and compounds of formula (II) with n=0.
2. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising a total of at least 4% w/w of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z<>0 and compounds of formula (II) with n<>0.
3. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising at least 5% by weight of products of formulae (I) and (II) with a linear structure with n is 0 in formulae (I) and (II) and z is 0 in formula (I).
4. Polyalkylamines composition of claim 1 comprising derivatives of di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamines, wherein the derivatives are alkoxylates which are optionally methylated.
5. Polyalkylamines composition of claim 1 comprising derivatives of di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamines, wherein the derivatives are methylated.
6. A process for making the polyalkylamines compositions of claim 1 wherein a di-fatty-alkyl(ene) alkyldiamine is reacted in two or more cycles whereby each cycle comprises a cyanoethylation step and a subsequent hydrogenation step.
7. A process of claim 6 wherein an acidic catalyst is used during the cyanoethylation steps.
8. A process of claim 6 wherein the reaction temperature during a later cyanoethylation step is higher than the temperature in an earlier cyanoethylation step.
9. A process of claim 6 wherein more than 1 mole of acrylonitrile is used per mole of the starting polyamine.
10. A process for making the polyalkylamines compositions of claim 1 wherein a di-fatty-alkyl(ene) alkyldiamine is subjected to a cyanoethylation step and a subsequent hydrogenation step, whereby in the cyanoethylation step at least 2 mole of acrylonitrile is used per mole of di-fatty-alkyl(ene) alkyldiamine and an acidic catalyst is used.
11. A process of claim 10 wherein the product is subjected to one or more further cycles comprising a cyanoethylation and subsequent hydrogenation step.
12. A process according to claim 6 wherein one or more solvents selected from C 1-4 alcohol and C 2-4 dials is present in the cyanoethylation step.
13. A process of claim 12 wherein the amount of solvent is from 0.1 to 50% by weight of the liquid reaction mixture.
14. A process to make the derivatives of claim 4 wherein a di-fatty-alkyl(ene) alkyldiamine is reacted in two or more cycles whereby each cycle comprises a cyanoethylation step and a subsequent hydrogenation step, with an additional step wherein the di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamines are methylated, alkoxylated, or both.
15. A method comprising adding the di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamine composition of claim 1 to an oil-in-water emulsion.
16. A method comprising adding the di-fatty-alkyl(ene) polyalkylamine composition of claim 1 to a formulation, wherein the formulation is suitable for use as a corrosion inhibitor, a fuel additive, an anti-scaling agent, an asphalt additive, an enhanced oil recovery agent for oil-wells, a cutting-oil additive, and an anti-static agent.
17. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising a total of at least 5% w/w of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z<>0 and compounds of formula (II) with n<>0.
18. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising a total of at least 6% w/w of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z<>0 and compounds of formula (II) with n<>0.
19. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising a total of at least 10% w/w of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z<>0 and compounds of formula (II) with n<>0.
20. Polyalkylamines composition according to claim 1 comprising a total of at least 20% w/w of branched compounds of formula (I) with at least one of n and z<>0 and compounds of formula (II) with n<>0.