Prevention or suppression of crystallisation of boric acid present in an aqueous phase
A method for preventing the crystallization of boric acid present in an aqueous phase, or for suppressing this crystallization when crystallization has already been initiated, including the addition of at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions, the compound being selected from alcohols, aminoalcohols, carboxylic acids, and hydroxy acids.
1. A method comprising:
providing an aqueous phase containing boric acid; and
preventing crystallization of said boric acid in said aqueous phase or suppressing said crystallization when crystallization has already been initiated by adding to said aqueous phase at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions, said at least one compound being selected from alcohols, amino-alcohols, carboxylic acids, and hydroxyacids, said at least one compound promoting solubilization of said boric acid in said aqueous phase.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions includes a total number of carbon atoms which is at most equal to eight.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions includes from 2 to 6 hydroxyl functions.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions is selected from maleic acid, 2,2-dimethylpropane-1,3-diol, 2-amino-2-(hydroxylmethyl)-propane-1,3-diol, 2-[bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol, myo-inositol, and pentaerythritol.
5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions is selected from 2-amino-2-(hydroxylmethyl)-propane-1,3-diol, 2-[bis-(2-hydroxyethyl)-amino]-2-(hydroxymethyl)-propane-1,3-diol, and pentaerythritol.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a mass concentration of said boric acid in said aqueous phase is at least equal to a value of a mass solubility of boric acid at a temperature which is exhibited by said aqueous phase containing said boric acid.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions to said boric acid in said aqueous phase is from 0.1/1 to 0.7/1.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions is added in solid form to said aqueous phase containing said boric acid.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one compound comprising at least two hydroxyl functions is added in liquid form to said aqueous phase containing said boric acid.