Poly alkanolamine emulsion breakers
Poly alkanolamines formed as the reaction products of secondary or tertiary alkanolamines, C8-C24 fatty acids, and shorter chain organic acids are provided, which serve as excellent petroleum/water emulsion breakers for water-in-oil emulsions and reverse oil-in-water emulsions. The polymers are preferably prepared using a reaction mixture of triethanolamine, tall oil fatty acids, and acetic acid.
1. A polymer produced by the reaction of at least three different reactants, said reactants including:
a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine of the Formula
where the R1, R2, and R3 groups are independently selected from the group consisting of H and groups of the Formula
where each y of each of R1, R2, and R3 group is independently from about 1-4, and at least two of the R1, R2, and R3 groups are of Formula II;
a fatty acid of the Formula
where R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from about 8-24 carbon atoms; and
acetic acid; and
where the alkanolamine reactant is present in a molar excess as compared with the combined number of moles of said fatty acid and organic acid components.
2. The polymer of claim 1 , said alkanolamine being a tertiary alkanolamine.
3. The polymer of claim 2 , said tertiary alkanolamine being selected from the group consisting of trimethylanolamine, triethylanolamine, tripropylanolamine, and mixtures thereof.
4. The polymer of claim 1 , where R has from about 12-24 carbon atoms.
5. The polymer of claim 4 , where said fatty acid is tall oil fatty acid.
6. The polymer of claim 1 , where said organic acid is selected from the group consisting of methanoic, ethanoic, propanoic, butanoic, pentanoic, and hexanoic acids, and mixtures thereof.
7. The polymer of claim 1 , said polymer having a molecular weight of from about 500-10,000.
8. The polymer of claim 7 , said molecular weight being from about 3000-5000.
9. The polymer of claim 1 , said polymer being in aqueous dispersion and having a viscosity of from about 35-85 cps.
10. A polymer comprising a plurality of moieties of the Formula
where Z ranges from about 3-75, Q is selected from the group consisting of H and groups of the Formulas
where each y of each Formula VI-VIII is independently from about 1-4, R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from about 8-24 carbon atoms, and m ranges from 0 to about 6, and
said polymer including at least two separate moieties where Q is of Formula VI, VII, or VIII.
11. The polymer of claim 10 , where R is from about 12-24.
12. The polymer of claim 10 , said organic acid being acetic acid.
13. The polymer of claim 10 , said molecular weight being from about 3000-5000.
14. The polymer of claim 10 , wherein the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with Formula VI is greater than the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII or Formula VIII.
15. The polymer of claim 14 , wherein the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with Formula VI is at least two times greater than the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII or Formula VIII.
16. The polymer of claim 14 , wherein the number of said moieties where Qu is in accordance with Formula VI is greater than the combined number of moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII and Formula VIII.
17. The polymer of claim 10 , wherein Z ranges from about 18-27.
18. A polymer comprising a plurality of moieties of the Formula
where Q is selected from the group consisting of groups of the Formulas
where each y of each Formula VI-VIII is independently from about 1-4, R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from about 8-24 carbon atoms, and m ranges from 0 to about 6, and
said polymer having a molecular weight of from about 3000-5000.
19. The polymer of claim 18 , wherein the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with Formula VI is greater than the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII or Formula VIII.
20. The polymer of claim 19 , wherein the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with Formula VI is at least two times greater than the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII or Formula VIII.
21. The polymer of claim 19 , wherein the number of said moieties where Q is in accordance with Formula VI is greater than the combined number of moieties where Q is in accordance with either of Formula VII and Formula VIII.
22. The polymer of claim 1 , said three reactants comprising triethanolamine, tall oil fatty acid, and acetic acid.
23. A polymer produced by the reaction of at least three different reactants, said reactants including:
a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine of the Formula
where the R1, R2, and R3 groups are independently selected from the group consisting of H and groups of the Formula
where each y of each of R1, R2, and R3 group is independently from about 1-4, and at least two of the R1, R2, and R3 groups are of Formula II;
a fatty acid of the Formula
where R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from about 8-24 carbon atoms; and
an organic acid of the Formula
where m ranges from 0 to about 6, and
where the alkanolamine reactant is present in a molar excess as compared with the combined number of moles of said fatty acid and organic acid component,
said polymer having a molecular weight of from about 3000-5000.
24. A polymer produced by the reaction of at least three different reactants, said reactants including:
a secondary or tertiary alkanolamine of the Formula
where the R1, R2, and R3 groups are independently selected from the group consisting of H and groups of the Formula
where each y of each of R1, R2, and R3 group is independently from about 1-4, and at least two of the R1, R2, and R3 groups are of Formula II;
a fatty acid of the Formula
where R is a straight or branched chain alkyl group having from about 8-24 carbon atoms; and
an organic acid of the Formula
where m ranges from 0 to about 6, and
where the alkanolamine reactant is present in a molar excess as compared with the combined number of moles of said fatty acid and organic acid components,
said polymer being in aqueous dispersion and having a viscosity of from about 35-85 cps.