Antiflocculating agents for metal halide solutions

A process for preparing a metal halide salt(s) solution which does not contain an insoluble flocculent material from a dry metal halide salt(s) said metal halide salt being selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, calcium chloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, barium bromide, strontium bromide and mixtures thereof, and containing an impurity which would normally form an insoluble flocculent material when said dry metal halide salt(s) is dissolved in water, said process comprising:

• (a) adding a member selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, borate anion producing compounds and mixtures thereof to said dry metal halide salt(s);
• and
• (b) dissolving said dry metal halide salt containing said member in water.

A process for making a metal halide salt(s) solution which does not contain an insoluble flocculent material from a dry metal halide salt(s) said metal halide salt being selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, calcium chloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, barium bromide, strontium bromide and mixtures thereof and containing an impurity which would normally form an insoluble flocculent material when said dry metal halide salt(s) is dissolved in water, said process comprising:

• (a) adding a member selected from the group consisting of ammonium chloride, ammonium bromide, borate anion producing compounds and mixtures thereof to water in an amount which provides in the range of about 100 to about 20,000 parts per million;
• and
• (b) dissolving said dry metal halide salt in said water containing said member.

A metal halide composition which will not form an insoluble flocculent material when dissolved in water, said metal halide being selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, calcium chloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, barium bromide, strontium bromide and mixtures thereof said composition containing about 200 to about 40,000 parts per million of a borate anion producing compound which is selected from the group consisting of boric acid, borax, fluoroboric acid, ammonium fluoroborate, alkali metal borohydride, alkaline earth metal borohydride, boric oxide, boron halide and mixtures thereof.

A brine which does not contain an insoluble flocculent material comprising water, a metal halide salt(s) said metal halide salt being selected from the group consisting of calcium bromide, calcium chloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, barium bromide, strontium bromide and mixtures thereof and about 200 to about 40,000 parts per million, based upon the metal halide salt, of borate anion producing compound(s).