Solvent Composition and Process for Cleaning Contaminated Industrial Equipment

1 . A system for decontaminating a vessel, comprising:

a steam line,

a solvent composition comprising steam and one or more amine oxides defined according to the formula:

wherein n is from 5 to 22,

wherein the one or more amine oxides have a boiling that matches a boiling point of the steam, and

wherein the solvent composition is substantially vaporized in the steam within the steam line.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-foaming agent.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the anti-foaming agent comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

4 . The solvent of claim 3 , wherein the polydimethylsiloxane is present in an amount of about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more amine oxides comprises N,N dimethyl decylamine; N,N dimethyl dodecylamine; N,N, dimethyl tetradecylamine;

N,N dimethyl hexadecylamine; N,N dimethyl octadecylamine; or a combination thereof

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more amine oxides are present in an amount of about 30 ppm to about 2,100 ppm.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an enzyme blend, wherein the enzyme blend is present in an amount of about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm, and wherein the enzyme blend comprises a lipase, a cellulase, an amylase, a protease, a pectinase, or combinations thereof.

8 . A method of decontaminating a vessel during a refinement process of crude oil and natural gas, comprising:

vaporizing one or more amine oxides within steam in a steam line to form a solvent composition, wherein the one or more amine oxides are defined according to the formula:

wherein n is from 5 to 22,

wherein the one or more amine oxides have a boiling that matches a boiling point of the steam;

injecting the solvent composition into the vessel via the steam line; and

allowing the solvent composition to contact at least a portion of contaminants present in the vessel,

wherein the contaminants comprise a hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, a metal sulfide, or combinations thereof.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising an anti-foaming agent.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the anti-foaming agent comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the polydimethylsiloxane is present in an amount of about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more amine oxides comprises N,N dimethyl decylamine; N,N dimethyl dodecylamine; N,N, dimethyl tetradecylamine; N,N dimethyl hexadecylamine; N,N dimethyl octadecylamine; or a combination thereof

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more amine oxides are present in an amount of about 30 ppm to about 2,100 ppm.

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising an enzyme blend, wherein the enzyme blend is present in an amount of about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm, and wherein the enzyme blend comprises a lipase, a cellulase, an amylase, a protease, a pectinase, or combinations thereof.

15 . A solvent composition comprising:

steam; and

one or more amine oxides defined according to the formula:

wherein n is from 5 to 22,

wherein the one or more amine oxides have a boiling that matches a boiling point of the steam, and

wherein the solvent composition is substantially vaporized in the steam.

16 . The solvent composition of claim 15 , further comprising an anti-foaming agent.

17 . The solvent composition of claim 16 , wherein the anti-foaming agent comprises polydimethylsiloxane.

18 . The solvent composition of claim 17 , wherein the polydimethylsiloxane is present in an amount of about 1 ppm to about 100 ppm.

19 . The solvent composition of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more amine oxides comprises N,N dimethyl decylamine; N,N dimethyl dodecylamine; N,N, dimethyl tetradecylamine; N,N dimethyl hexadecylamine; N,N dimethyl octadecylamine; or a combination thereof

20 . The solvent composition of claim 15 , wherein the one or more amine oxides are present in an amount of about 30 ppm to about 2,100 ppm.