GTL Oil Emulsion Polymerisation With Succinic Anhydride Surfactants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional inverse emulsion polymerization using a crude oil distillate is environmentally undesirable and cannot effectively utilize a GTL oil due to differences in hydrocarbon structure and chemical composition, leading to instability and difficulty in breaking the emulsion for large-scale industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A surfactant system formed by reacting alk(en)yl substituted succinic anhydride and amino alcohol at a molar ratio of 1:at least 1.05 is used to stabilize and emulsify an emulsion with a GTL oil, allowing for stable polymerization and easy inversion into an aqueous phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional surfactant system is used with GTL oil, then the emulsion becomes unstable, but using a crude oil distillate provides stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the surfactant system by using a specific reaction product of succinic anhydride and amino alcohol in a controlled molar ratio (1:at least 1.05). This parameter change allows the surfactant to be compatible with GTL oil's specific hydrocarbon structure, resolving the instability issue while eliminating environmental harm associated with crude oil distillates.
Solution Approach 2:
The surfactant acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the aqueous phase and the GTL oil phase. By specifically designing the surfactant through the succinic anhydride-amino alcohol reaction, it creates effective interfacial interaction with GTL oil's unique chemical composition, enabling stable emulsion formation without using harmful crude oil distillates.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a GTL oil is used instead of crude oil distillate, then environmental friendliness improves, but emulsion stability deteriorates due to different hydrocarbon structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the structural incompatibility by changing the surfactant's chemical parameters. The specific molar ratio reaction (1:at least 1.05) of succinic anhydride and amino alcohol produces a surfactant with modified molecular structure and properties that are specifically adapted to GTL oil's hydrocarbon structure, thereby achieving stability with the environmentally friendly oil.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite surfactant system by combining the reaction product of succinic anhydride and amino alcohol in specific proportions. This composite material approach allows the surfactant to possess multiple functional characteristics that match GTL oil's unique properties, enabling stable emulsion formation with the environmentally superior oil alternative.
3Ease of operation
If the emulsion is designed to invert on simple dilution, then ease of operation improves, but control over breaking timing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant system provides dynamic control over emulsion stability. The emulsion remains stable under polymerisation conditions but can be controlled to invert at specific stages. This dynamic property allows the process to maintain stability during manufacturing while enabling controlled breaking when needed, balancing ease of operation with manufacturing precision.
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
The surfactant system provides a more stable, biodegradable, and thermally stable emulsion with a longer shelf life, enabling efficient polymer production and higher loading of additives, overcoming the limitations of conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
the emulsion also includes a surfactant which is obtainable by reacting an alk(en)yl substituted succinic anhydride and an amino alcohol
Implementation Method 2
a polymerisation initiator, usually a free radical initiator, are dissolved in an aqueous phase
Implementation Method 3
the emulsion is designed so that it undergoes inversion on simple dilution into water
Data Source
AI summary
A method of inverse emulsion polymerisation using an oil phase comprising a hydrocarbon oil obtainable from a gas to liquids process (a GTL oil) is described, in addition to an emulsion comprising a GTL oil and the use of a reaction product of an alk(en)yl substituted succinic anhydride and an amino alcohol to emulsify the emulsion.