Hexahydrotriazine Scavenger Micelle Formation Prevents Solid Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrogen sulfide scavengers, such as hexahydrotriazines, face operational difficulties due to the formation of crystalline or amorphous solids, especially under cold conditions, which leads to maintenance challenges and operational downtime in hydrocarbon stream processing.
Innovation Solution
The use of hexahydrotriazines that form micelles as they become spent, preventing the formation of solids by creating a hydrophobic exterior that retards the influx of water and sulthydryl moieties, allowing the scavenger to remain active and soluble in aqueous phases, with the addition of amphiphilic moieties to enhance micelle formation and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hexahydrotriazines are used as hydrogen sulfide scavengers, then effective scavenging is achieved, but formation of crystalline or amorphous solids occurs especially under cold conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an amphiphilic moiety as an intermediary substance that mediates between the spent hexahydrotriazine and the aqueous environment. This amphiphilic compound forms micelles with the spent scavenger, preventing direct interaction that would lead to solid formation, while maintaining the scavenging effectiveness of the original compound.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the spent scavenger system by introducing amphiphilic moieties that alter the solubility and aggregation behavior. This parameter change transforms the spent scavenger from a solid-forming substance into a micelle-forming system that remains soluble and prevents solid deposition.
2Productivity
If hexahydrotriazines react with hydrogen sulfide to form dithiazine, then hydrogen sulfide removal is achieved, but operational difficulties and maintenance requirements increase due to solid deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding the amphiphilic moiety before the spent scavenger can form solids. This preventive measure ensures that as the hexahydrotriazine reacts and becomes spent, the amphiphilic compound is already present to form micelles and prevent solid deposition, maintaining operational continuity without interruptions for cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful solid deposition into a beneficial micelle formation. The spent scavenger, which would normally form troublesome solids, is instead directed to form stable micelles with the amphiphilic moiety. This transforms a harmful byproduct into a beneficial colloidal system that maintains solubility and prevents operational disruptions.
3Reliability
If conventional hexahydrotriazines are used in cold environments, then scavenging function is maintained, but solid deposition increases requiring equipment shutdown for cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The amphiphilic moiety acts as an intermediary that prevents direct contact between the spent scavenger and the aqueous phase in cold environments. By forming micelles, it mediates the interaction between hydrophobic spent scavenger and hydrophilic water, preventing solid deposition even at low temperatures and eliminating shutdowns for cleaning.
Data Source
AI summary
Processes and compositions for scavenging hydrogen sulfide from hydrocarbon streams are disclosed that reduce, if not substantially eliminate, the formation of crystalline or amorphous solids even under cold conditions. The compositions used in the processes comprise a hexahydrotriazine component and an amphiphilic component that form a hydrophobic micelle when the hexahydrotriazine component becomes spent.