# US 9,752,236 B2 · Corrosion inhibitors

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- Number: US 9,752,236 B2
- Document ID: US9752236B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/992,674
- Filed: 2011-12-08
- Published: 2014-05-15
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2010-12-08
- Assignees: Rhodia Operations
- Applicants: Alan Fellows; Kevan Hatchman; Chris Jones
- Inventors: Alan Fellows; Kevan Hatchman; Chris Jones
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752236B2

## CPC

- C23F 11/163: {Sulfonic acids}
- C09K 8/54: Compositions for in situ inhibition of corrosion in boreholes or wells
- C23F 11/04: in markedly acid liquids
- C23F: NON-MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF METALLIC MATERIAL FROM SURFACE (working metal by laser beams B23K26/00; desurfacing by applying flames B23K7/00; working of metal by electro-erosion B23H; producing decorative effects by removing surface material, e.g. by engraving, by etching, B44C1/22; electrolytic etching or polishing C25F); INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL; MULTI-STEP PROCESSES FOR SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL INVOLVING AT LEAST ONE PROCESS PROVIDED FOR IN CLASS C23 AND AT LEAST ONE PROCESS COVERED BY SUBCLASS C21D OR C22F OR CLASS C25
- C09K: MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE

## Abstract

The present invention provides the use of a sulfosuccinate as a corrosion inhibitor. In particular, the sulfosuccinate may be used to inhibit the corrosion of a metal component that is, or will be, in contact with an aqueous fluid, in order to prevent or reduce corrosion of the metal component. The sulfosuccinate may be used to inhibit corrosion of a metal component in an industrial aqueous system, such as a hydrocarbon plant; a chemical plant; a water plant; or a paper manufacturing plant, and in particular in an oilfield system or a downstream oil-related system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of preventing or reducing corrosion of a metal component that is in contact with, or will be in contact with, an aqueous fluid, wherein the method comprises:
applying a sulfosuccinate to a metal component or adding the sulfosuccinate to an aqueous fluid that is in contact with, or will be in contact with, the metal component
wherein the sulfosuccinate is a reaction product of maleic anhydride and a compound selected from the group consisting of: a fatty alkanolamide, a fatty alkoxylated alkanolamide, a fatty alcohol, a fatty alkoxylated alcohol, an alkoxylated terpene group, and an alkyl polyglucoside, followed by reaction with a bisulfite;
wherein the fatty group of the compound is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfosuccinate is of formula (I) or formula (II):
wherein
M is a monovalent or divalent cation; and
R is:
(i) a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group; or
(ii-a) R′—(O—C2H4)x—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8-C30 terpene group, and x is an integer from 1 to 50; or
(ii-b) R′—(O—C3H6)x—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8-C30 terpene group, and x is an integer from 1 to 50; or
(ii-c) R′—(O—C4H8)x—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8-C30 terpene group, and x is an integer from 1 to 50; or
(ii-d) R′—(O—CyH2y)x′(O—C2H4)x″—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8-C30 terpene group, y is 3 or 4, x′ is an integer from 1 to 50, and x″ is an integer from 1 to 50; or
(ii-e) R′—(O—C2H4)x″(O—CyH2y)x′—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8-C30 terpene group, y is 3 or 4, x′ is an integer from 1 to 50, and x″ is an integer from 1 to 50; or
(iii) R′—(═O)—NH—Ra—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group, and Ra is a C1-C6 alkyl or C2-C6 alkoxyalkyl, or
(iv) R′—(O—CH2—CH2)x—C(═O)—NH—Ra—, where R′ is a hydrocarbon group which is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group, and Ra is a C1-C6 alkyl or C2-C6 alkoxyalkyl, and x is an integer from 1 to 50;
or the (or each) sulfosuccinate is made up of units of formula (III) and/or (IV):
wherein
R is a C8 to 30 alkyl group;
R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and —CH2CH(OH)CH2—R12, with the proviso that R1, R2, R3 and R4 are not all hydrogen;
R5, R6, R7 R8, R9 and R11 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and —CH2CH(OH)CH2—R12,
and R10 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, —CH2CH(OH)CH2—R12, and
with the proviso that R5, R6, R7 R8, R9, R10 and R11 are not all hydrogen,
R12 is
and M is a monovalent or divalent cation, and wherein the overall degree of polymerisation of the sulfosuccinate product is from 1 to 10.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sulfosuccinate is of formula (I) or (II) and wherein x, x′ and x″ are each independently from 1 to 20.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sulfosuccinate is of formula (I) or (II) and wherein Ra is ethyl, isopropyl or ethoxyethane.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the sulfosuccinate is made up of units of formula (III) and/or (IV) and the degree of polymerisation is from 1 to 5.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the sulfosuccinate is of formula (I) or (II) and wherein the hydrocarbon group is an unbranched C10 to C22 alkyl or alkenyl group or a C8 to C22 terpene group, or wherein the sulfosuccinate is made up of units of formula (III) and/or (IV) and R is a C12 to C22 alkyl group.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the cation M is selected from the group consisting of: alkali metal ions, ammonium ions, and alkanolammonium ions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein the sulfosuccinate is of formula (I).

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfosuccinate has a molecular weight of greater than 700 Da.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfosuccinate has a molecular weight of from 300 to 1600 Da.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfosuccinate has an HLB value of from 0 to 7.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the metal component is in an industrial aqueous system and wherein the metal component contacts the aqueous fluid within the industrial aqueous system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12 wherein the industrial aqueous system is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous system in a hydrocarbon plant; a chemical plant; a water plant; and a paper manufacturing plant.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the industrial aqueous system is an oilfield system or a downstream oil-related system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14 wherein the industrial aqueous system is an oilfield production system or an oilfield distribution system or an oil refining system.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous fluid is acidic.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the metal component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: ferrous material, copper, aluminium, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 wherein the metal component comprises steel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the sulfosuccinate is used together with one or more component selected from the group consisting of: corrosion inhibitors that are not sulfosuccinates; surfactants; solvents; antifoam agents; demulsifiers; scale inhibitors; dispersants and biocides.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of sulfosuccinate used is from 1 ppm to 1000 ppm.

### Claim 21

A method of inhibiting corrosion of a metal component of an industrial aqueous system that is in contact with, or will be in contact with, an aqueous fluid, wherein the metal component contacts the aqueous fluid within the industrial aqueous system, the method comprises:
applying a sulfosuccinate to a metal component of an industrial aqueous system or adding the sulfosuccinate to an aqueous fluid that is in contact with, or will be in contact with, the metal component of the industrial aqueous system,
wherein the sulfosuccinate is a reaction product of maleic anhydride and a compound selected from the group consisting of: a fatty alkanolamide, a fatty alkoxylated alkanolamide, a fatty alcohol, a fatty alkoxylated alcohol, an alkoxylated terpene group, and an alkyl polyglucoside, followed by reaction with a bisulfite;
wherein the fatty group of the compound is a C8-30 unbranched alkyl or alkenyl group.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The method of claim 21 wherein the industrial aqueous system is selected from the group consisting of an aqueous system in a hydrocarbon plant; a chemical plant; a water plant; and a paper manufacturing plant.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The method of claim 22 wherein the industrial aqueous system is an oilfield system or a downstream oil-related system.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 wherein the industrial aqueous system is an oilfield production system or an oilfield distribution system or an oil refining system.