IP Library Granted Patent US 12,371,623
Granted Patent B2
US 12,371,623 · App. 17/480,005 · Granted Jul 29, 2025

Demulsifier or water clarifier activity modifiers

Inventors: Geoff Bennett (Devon, CA); Jacqueline Behles (Houston, TX); Sean Stewart (St. Albert, CA)
Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
C10G33/04B01D17/047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,371,623
App. No.
17/480,005
Granted
Jul 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Adding a cationic starch and/or an anionic starch to a conventional demulsifier or water clarifier reduces activity of the resulting product without losing demulsifier or water clarifier performance.

Claims (18)

1. A modified demulsifier or water clarifier comprising:

a modified compound selected from the group consisting of:

a demulsifier selected from the group consisting of alkylarylsulfonate amine salts, furandione polymers, oxyalkylated alkanolamines, oxyalkylated polyamines, oxyalkylated imine polymers, oxyalkylated polyols, (methyl) oxirane polymers, polyether polyols, polyoxyalkylenes, polyesters, polyglycol diepoxides, polyglycol esters, and mixtures thereof; and

a water clarifier selected from the group consisting of a polycondensate based on N,N′-bis[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]urea, polycondensate based on alkanolamines, triethanolamines, and combinations of these water clarifiers; and

a cationic starch and/or an anionic starch present in an amount effective to reduce activity of the modified compound to at least 2% without reducing its performance, wherein the effective amount of the cationic starch and/or the anionic starch ranges from 0.1 to 3 wt. %, based on the modified compound.

2. The modified demulsifier or water clarifier of claim 1 further comprising a quaternized polyamine.

3. The modified demulsifier or water clarifier of claim 1 where activity of the modified compound is reduced to at least 5%.

4. The modified demulsifier or water clarifier of claim 1 further comprising an alcohol.

5. The modified demulsifier or water clarifier of claim 1 , wherein the demulsifier is selected from the group consisting of alkylarylsulfonate amine salts, oxyalkylated alkanolamines, oxyalkylated imine polymers, polyesters, polyglycol diepoxides, polyglycol esters, and mixtures thereof.

6. The modified demulsifier or water clarifier of claim 1 , wherein the modified compound is a water clarifier selected from the group consisting of a polycondensate based on N,N′-bis[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]urea, polycondensate based on alkanolamines, triethanolamines, and combinations of these water clarifiers.

7. A modified demulsifier comprising:

a modified compound, wherein the modified compound is a demulsifier selected from the group consisting of alkylarylsulfonate amine salts, oxyalkylated alkanolamines, oxyalkylated imine polymers, polyesters, polyglycol diepoxides, polyglycol esters, and mixtures thereof;

a cationic starch and/or an anionic starch, wherein the amount of the cationic starch and/or the anionic starch ranges from 0.1 to 3 wt. %, based on the demulsifier; and

an alcohol.

8. A modified water clarifier comprising:

a modified compound, wherein the modified compound is a water clarifier selected from the group consisting of a polycondensate based on N,N′-bis[3-(dimethylamino) propyl]urea, polycondensate based on alkanolamines, triethanolamines, and combinations of these water clarifiers;

a cationic starch and/or an anionic starch, wherein the amount of the cationic starch and/or the anionic starch ranges from 0.1 to 3 wt. %, based on the water clarifier; and

an alcohol.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 16, 2022
From: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
To: BAKER HUGHES HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 059141/0762 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2021
From: BENNETT, GEOFF; BEHLES, JACQUELINE; STEWART, SEAN
To: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 057539/0926 →