A method for reducing or preventing
corrosion or
fouling in an apparatus for carrying out a
chemical process, where
corrosion or
fouling is caused by acidic compounds present in the
chemical process, which comprises the addition of at least one
quaternary ammonium hydroxide of the formula (I) to the apparatus, wherein the
chemical process is carried out: [Chem. 1] where R1, R2, R3 are each independently C1-C10
alkyl; R4 is inter alia C1-C18
alkyl, benzyl, monocycloalkyl having 5, 6, 7 or 8 carbon atoms, bicycloalkyl having 6 to 8 carbon atoms, tricycloalkyl having 7 to 10 carbon atoms, where monocycloalkyl, bicycloalkyl and tricycloalkyl are unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 methyl groups, or tri-C1-C4
alkyl ammonium groups. R1 and R2 together with the
nitrogen atom may also form a 5 or 6-membered, saturated
nitrogen heterocycle, which is unsubstituted or carries 1 or 2 methyl groups; and / or R3 and R4 together with the
nitrogen atom may also form a 5 or 6-membered, saturated nitrogen heterocycle, which is unsubstituted or carries 1 or 2 methyl groups.