# US 11,441,103 B2 · Solvent composition and process for cleaning contaminated industrial equipment

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- Number: US 11,441,103 B2
- Document ID: US11441103B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/407,137
- Filed: 2017-01-16
- Published: 2018-07-19
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-01-16
- Assignees: United Laboratories International, LLC
- Applicants: United Laboratories International, LLC
- Inventors: Stephen D. Matza
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441103B2

## CPC

- C11D 3/0026: {Low foaming or foam regulating compositions}
- B08B 3/00: Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam (B08B9/00 takes precedence)
- B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect
- B08B 3/10: with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
- B08B 9/08: Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
- C11D 1/75: Amino oxides
- C11D 3/373: {containing silicones}
- C11D 3/386: Preparations containing enzymes {, e.g. protease or amylase}
- C11D 2111/20: Industrial or commercial equipment, e.g. reactors, tubes or engines
- C11D: DETERGENT COMPOSITIONS; USE OF SINGLE SUBSTANCES AS DETERGENTS; SOAP OR SOAP-MAKING; RESIN SOAPS; RECOVERY OF GLYCEROL
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A method, system and composition decontaminate a vessel. In an embodiment, a solvent composition for decontamination includes an amine oxide, polydimethylsiloxane, and water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of decontaminating a vessel during a refinement process of crude oil and natural gas, comprising:
providing a solvent composition comprising an amine oxide, polydimethylsiloxane in an amount of about 1 ppm to 100 ppm, and water;
injecting the solvent composition into the vessel using a steam line comprising steam, wherein the steam is saturated steam at a pressure of about 50 psi to about 200 psi and wherein the step of introducing the solvent composition into the vessel comprises a liquid boilout;
allowing the solvent composition to contact at least a portion of contaminants present in the vessel, wherein the contact forms emulsions comprising trapped gas molecules that are destabilized by the polydimethylsiloxane; and
discharging the solvent composition from the vessel,
wherein the contaminants comprise a hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, a metal sulfide, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent composition further comprises an enzyme blend.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of introducing the solvent composition into the vessel comprises circulating the solvent composition within the vessel.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the concentration of each component of the solvent composition such that a boiling point of the solvent composition equals about the boiling point of water in the steam line.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent composition is discharged to a waste vessel and wherein the spent amine oxide is skimmed off.