FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure generally relates to cationic polymer salts, and more particularly to compositions to be used as surfactants, antimicrobial compounds, and corrosion inhibitors.

BACKGROUND

Quaternary ammonium compounds comprise an important subcategory of surfactants because they contain unique properties. A main distinction between quaternary ammonium compounds and other surfactants is their unique structure. Quaternary ammonium compounds consist mainly of two moieties, a hydrophobic group, e.g., long alkyl group, and a quaternary ammonium salt group. The unique positive charge of the ammonium plays a key role, i.e., electrostatic interactions, between the surfactant and surface.

Industrial water systems employ process water to serve many different purposes but may be prone to microbial contamination and fouling. Fouling or deposition of any organic or inorganic material can occur even in industrial water systems treated with the best water treatment programs currently available.

If these industrial water systems are not periodically cleaned, then they will become heavily fouled. Fouling has a negative impact on the industrial water system. For example, severe mineral scale (inorganic material) will buildup on the water contact surfaces and anywhere there is scale providing an ideal environment for microorganism growth.

Evaporative cooling water systems are particularly prone to fouling. This fouling occurs by a variety of mechanisms including deposition of air-borne, water-borne, or water-formed contaminants; water stagnation; process leaks; and other factors. If allowed to progress, the system can suffer from decreased operational efficiency, premature equipment failure, and increased health-related risks associated with microbial fouling.

Fouling can also occur due to microbiological contamination. Sources of microbial contamination in industrial water systems are numerous and may include, but are not limited to, air-borne contamination, water make-up, process leaks and improperly cleaned equipment. These microorganisms can establish microbial communities on any wettable or semi-wettable surface of the water system.

Exopolymeric substances secreted by microorganisms aid in the formation of biofilms as the microbial communities develop on surfaces. These biofilms are complex ecosystems that establish a means for concentrating nutrients and offer protection for growth, and biofilms can accelerate scale, corrosion, and other fouling processes. Not only do biofilms contribute to reduction of system efficiencies, but they also provide an excellent environment for microbial proliferation that can includeLegionellabacteria. It is therefore important that biofilms and other fouling processes be reduced to the greatest extent possible to minimize the health-related risk associated withLegionellaand other water-borne pathogens.

Corrosion inhibitors are often added into upstream oil and gas production fluids to protect carbon steel pipelines and infrastructure from corrosion. Quaternary ammonium compounds have been used for many years as part of corrosion inhibitor formulations but are most often are bis quaternary species or species quaternized with benzyl chloride, which is known to be very hazardous.

There is a continuing need for quaternary ammonium compounds that fill this niche of surfactants and corrosion inhibitors.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In some embodiments, a cationic polymer salt is provided which comprises a reaction product derived from a reaction of a polyamine or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt.

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides a cationic polymer salt comprising a reaction product derived from a reaction of a polyamine or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I):


wherein each X−is independently an anion; R1is C1-C6alkylene substituted with hydroxyl or —OR5and an X−end group; R2, R3, and R4are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; and R5is C1-C6alkyl.

In some embodiments, a cationic polymer salt is provided which comprises formula (III):


wherein each R6is independently C2-C6alkylene; each R7is independently hydrogen, —R8, —R6—N(R8)2, —R6—N(R8)—R6—N(R8)2, or —R6—N—(R6—N(R8)2)2; each R8is independently hydrogen or


each R9is independently C2-C6alkylene substituted with hydroxyl or —OR13; R10, R11, and R12are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; R13is C1-C6alkyl; n is an integer from 1 to 100; and each X−is independently an anion.

In some embodiments, a cationic polymer salt is provided which comprises a reaction product derived from a reaction of a polyamine, an alkyleneimine, or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I):


wherein each X−is independently an anion; R1is C1-C6alkylene substituted with a hydroxyl or —OR5and an X−end group; R2, R3, and R4are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; and R5is C1-C6alkyl; and

wherein any one of the following:

(A) the cationic polymer salt has no substitutions within its main chain, no alkyl-quaternized ammonium within its main chain, and comprises at least 4 quaternary ammonium groups; or

(B) the cationic polymer salt has one or more terminal tertiary amine groups having the formula (IV):


wherein R11is R1without the X−end group, and either: the polymer salt has no substitutions within its main chain or at least 1 of R2, R3, and R4is a C9-C22alkyl group; or

(C) R2and R3are C6-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl and R4is methyl.

In some embodiments, a method for controlling microbes in an aqueous system is disclosed. The method can include adding to the aqueous system a reaction product derived from a reaction of a polyamine or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I):


wherein each X−is independently an anion; R1is C1-C6alkylene substituted with a hydroxyl or —OR5and an X−end group; R2, R3, and R4are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; and R5is C1-C6alkyl.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed for controlling microbes in process water by adding a composition to the process water. The composition may include a cationic polymer of formula (III):


where each R6may be independently C2-C6alkylene; each R7may be independently hydrogen, —R8, —R6—N(R8)2, —R6—N(R8)—R6—N(R8)2, or —R6—N—(R6—N(R8)2)2; each R8may be independently hydrogen or


each R9may be independently C2-C6alkylene substituted with hydroxyl or —OR13; R10, R11, and R12are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; R13may be C1-C6alkyl; n may be an integer from 1 to 100; and each X−may be independently an anion.

In some embodiments, a method is provided for controlling microbes on a surface by adding a composition to the surface. The composition may include a cationic polymer of formula (III):


where each R6may be independently C2-C6alkylene; each R7may be independently hydrogen, —R8, —R6—N(R8)2, —R6—N(R8)—R6—N(R8)2, or —R6—N—(R6—N(R8)2)2; each R8may be independently hydrogen or


each R9may be independently C2-C6alkylene substituted with hydroxyl or —OR13; R10, R11, and R12are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; R13may be C1-C6alkyl; n may be an integer from 1 to 100; and each X−may be independently an anion.

In some embodiments, a method of inhibiting corrosion on a surface is disclosed. The method can include contacting the surface with a reaction product derived from a reaction of a polyamine or a polyalkyleneimine and a substituted alkyl trialkyl quaternary ammonium salt of formula (I):


wherein each X−is independently an anion; R1is C1-C6alkylene substituted with a hydroxyl or —OR5and an X−end group; R2, R3, and R4are each independently C1-C22alkyl or C7-C22arylalkyl; and R5is C1-C6alkyl.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of this application. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

