# US 8,540,885 B2 · Use of alkoxylated polyalkanolamines for splitting oil-water emulsions

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- Number: US 8,540,885 B2
- Document ID: US8540885B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/920,623
- Filed: 2009-02-27
- Published: 2011-01-20
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 2008-03-04
- Assignees: BASF SE
- Applicants: Sophia Ebert; Andreas Eichhorn
- Inventors: Sophia Ebert; Andreas Eichhorn
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540885B2

## CPC

- B01D 17/047: {with separation aids}
- C08G 73/024: {Polyamines containing oxygen in the form of ether bonds in the main chain}
- C10G 33/04: with chemical means
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

The use of alkoxylated polyalkanolamines as demulsifiers for splitting oil-water emulsions, especially for splitting crude oil emulsions.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of splitting oil-water emulsions, comprising adding polyalkanolamines to an oil-water emulsion, wherein polyalkanolamines are alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) which are obtained by the following process:
(A) condensing at least one trialkanolamine of the general formula N(R1—OH)3 (Ia) and/or at least one dialkanolamine of the general formula R2—N(R1—OH)2 (Ib) to give a polyalkanolamine (II),
where
the R1 radicals are each independently a divalent, linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms,
the R2 radicals are each hydrogen and/or linear or branched aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and/or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms, and
the resulting polyalkanolamines (II) have a mean molar mass of from 1000 g/mol to 20 000 g/mol,
(B) alkoxylating the resulting polyalkanolamine (II) with ethylene oxide and propylene oxide to form alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) which contains polyoxyalkylene groups, where
the polyoxyalkylene groups formed have block structure of the general formula —(CH2CH2O)x(CH2CH(CH3)O)yH, and where x and y are each from 3 to 100, and
the y/x ratio is >1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein (Ia) is at least one trialkanolamine selected from the group of triethanolamine, triisopropanolamine and tributan-2 olamine.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one component (Ic) having two hydroxyl and/or amino groups is used additionally for the condensation in an amount of not more than 50% by weight based on the amount of all components used for the condensation.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) are converted in a further process step (C) by means of suitable reagents which are capable of reaction with hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the emulsion is a crude oil emulsion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, which further comprises using at least one component (Ic) having two hydroxyl and/or amino groups for the condensation in an amount of not more than 50% by weight based on the amount of the components used for the (A) condensing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) are converted in a further process step (C) by means of suitable reagents which are capable of reaction with hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein the emulsion is a crude oil emulsion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one component (Ic) comprises polyols of the general formula R3(OH)n, where n is a natural number from 2 to 4 and R3 is an n-valent linear or branched aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radical having from 2 to 10 carbon atoms.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) are converted in a further process step (C) by means of suitable reagents which are capable of reaction with hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method according to claim 9, wherein the emulsion is a crude oil emulsion.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein x is from 8 to 30 and y is from 20 to 50.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) are converted in a further process step (C) by means of suitable reagents which are capable of reaction with hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method according to claim 12, wherein the emulsion is a crude oil emulsion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines (III) are converted in a further process step (C) by means of suitable reagents which are capable of reaction with hydroxyl groups and/or amino groups.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method according to claim 15, wherein the terminal hydroxyl groups of the polyoxyalkylene groups are etherified and/or esterified.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein the polyoxyalkylene groups are those of the general formula -(alkoxy)n-OC(O)—R6 or -(alkoxy)n-O—R6, where R6 is an aliphatic, saturated or unsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the emulsion is a crude oil emulsion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method according to claim 18, wherein the crude oil emulsion has a water content of from 10 to 95% by weight of water based on the sum of all components of the emulsion.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the alkoxylated polyalkanolamines are used in combination with at least one further emulsion splitter.