Biocide Activation via Chemical Reaction for Safe Storage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The oil and gas industry faces challenges in safely storing, transporting, and handling biocides due to their hazardous nature, and there is a need for biocides to be activated only when needed to prevent microbial growth and hydrogen sulfide production in wells, which can be corrosive and foul treatment fluids.
Innovation Solution
Converting an inactive biocide into an active biocide through a chemical reaction with an activating agent, such as a reduction-oxidation reaction, acid, or base, allowing for safe storage and handling, and reversing the process with a deactivating agent after use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If biocides are stored and handled in active form, then microbial growth prevention is effective, but safety risks and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The biocide is prepared in advance in an inactive form for safe storage and transport, then converted to active form just before application. This preliminary preparation in a safe state resolves the contradiction by maintaining effectiveness while eliminating safety risks during storage and handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocide undergoes chemical parameter changes between inactive and active forms. By changing the chemical state parameter, the substance can be safely stored in one form and become effective in another, resolving the contradiction between safety during storage and effectiveness during use.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If biocides are stored in inactive form, then safety during storage is improved, but activation timing and control become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A chemical activating agent serves as an intermediary that converts the inactive biocide to active form. This intermediary mechanism simplifies activation control by using a straightforward chemical reaction rather than complex control systems, resolving the contradiction between safety and control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The biocide system performs self-activation through chemical reaction with the activating agent, eliminating the need for external control mechanisms. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining safety during storage.
3Reliability
If biocides are used continuously, then microbial growth is prevented, but environmental impact and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The biocide is activated periodically only when needed for microbial growth prevention, rather than continuously. This periodic activation maintains effectiveness while reducing environmental impact and safety risks during periods when the biocide is inactive.
Solution Approach 2:
The inactive biocide can be discarded or recovered after use, eliminating persistent environmental contamination. This approach reduces environmental impact while maintaining effective microbial growth prevention during the active period.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe storage, transportation, and handling of biocides, ensuring they are only active when needed, reducing safety risks and environmental impact while effectively preventing microbial growth and hydrogen sulfide production in wells.
Implementation Method 1
The chemical reaction can be a reduction-oxidation reaction
Implementation Method 2
The chemical reaction can be a reduction-oxidation reaction or a reaction with an acid or a base
Data Source
AI summary
A method of converting an inactive biocide into an active biocide comprises: contacting the inactive biocide with an activating agent, wherein the activating agent is capable of chemically reacting with the inactive biocide; and causing or allowing a chemical reaction to take place between the inactive biocide and the activating agent, wherein the chemical reaction produces the active biocide. The methods can also include deactivating the active biocide via a chemical reaction between the active biocide and a deactivating agent.