Non-BTEX Solvent Substitution for Oilfield Additive Synthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
The use of BTEX solvents in preparing materials like non-emulsifying agents, corrosion inhibitors, and surfactants poses environmental hazards due to their toxicity and mobility in soil and groundwater, necessitating a method that reduces environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of non-BTEX organic solvents such as propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate, and diisobutyl ketone is employed to form materials like oil soluble demulsifiers, imidazoline corrosion inhibitors, and alkylphenolic resins, which are environmentally less harmful, and may include azeotropic distillation to produce comparable products without the use of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, or xylene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If BTEX solvents are used to prepare materials like non-emulsifying agents and corrosion inhibitors, then the materials can be effectively produced, but environmental harm increases due to toxicity and groundwater contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the solvent from BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) to alternative solvents such as alcohols, esters, ketones, or their mixtures. This parameter change maintains the solvent's functional properties for material production while eliminating the toxic aromatic hydrocarbon components that cause environmental harm and groundwater contamination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs readily available, biodegradable solvents (alcohols, esters, ketones) that can be easily disposed of or degraded in the environment, replacing the persistent and toxic BTEX solvents. These alternative solvents fulfill the manufacturing function temporarily and then break down without long-term environmental damage
2Productivity
If BTEX solvents are used for azeotropic distillation to dehydrate mixtures, then water removal is effective, but carcinogenic risks and soil mobility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from aromatic hydrocarbons (BTEX) to aliphatic compounds (alcohols, esters, ketones) that can still form azeotropes with water and ethanol, enabling effective dehydration through azeotropic distillation without introducing carcinogenic risks or high soil mobility
3Object-affected harmful factors
If non-BTEX solvents are used to replace BTEX solvents, then environmental harm is reduced, but solvent effectiveness in material formation must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent identifies a universal class of solvents (alcohols, esters, ketones and their mixtures) that can perform multiple functions: forming azeotropes with water for dehydration, dissolving reactants for material synthesis, and facilitating product formation. This universality ensures that replacing BTEX with these alternative solvents maintains effectiveness across different material production applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the chemical parameters of the solvent system by selecting from various alcohols, esters, and ketones with appropriate solubility parameters and azeotropic properties, ensuring that the alternative solvent matches or exceeds the effectiveness of BTEX solvents in material formation while eliminating toxicity
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
This approach produces materials with comparable properties to those made with BTEX solvents but with significantly reduced environmental harm, as evidenced by comparable non-emulsification results and viscosity profiles, demonstrating the effectiveness of non-BTEX solvents in replacing BTEX solvents.
Implementation Method 1
An azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids where the total composition of the mixture cannot be changed by simple distillation, i.e. boiling the liquid mixture produces a vapor having the same ratio of liquid components as that of the liquid mixture. Therefore, azeotropic distillation is a technique applied to change the ratio of components within an azeotrope.
Data Source
AI summary
Preparing a demulsifier, an oil soluble imidazoline corrosion inhibitor, an alkylphenolic resin, an alkylphenolic resin oxyalkylate, a paraffin inhibitor, a defoamer, an oil soluble scavenger, an oil soluble cleaner, a wetting agent, a surfactant, a foamer, and combinations thereof, in a non-limiting embodiment, in the absence of a BTEX solvent would be more beneficial to the environment than the same products prepared with BTEX solvent(s). The method may include adding an organic solvent to a mixture to form the aforementioned material(s). The organic solvent may be or include propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA currently marketed as DOWANOL PMA™), dipropylene glycol methyl ether acetate (currently marketed as DOWANOL DPMA™), diisobutyl ketone (DIBK), methyl isobutylketone (MIBK), and mixtures thereof.