Patent ID: 11898091
Assignee: CLARIANT INTERNATIONAL LTD
Field: Basic materials chemistry (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C | IPC C

Claim 0:
1. A method for inhibiting the formation of gas hydrate agglomerates and plugs, the method comprising bringing a system containing hydrocarbons and water susceptible to gas hydrate formation into contact with a composition comprising
A) from 5 to 95 weight % of an amphiphile having a hydrophobic tail, R5, linked to a hydrophilic head group —N(R1)(R2) or —[N(R1)(R2)(R3)]+X−by a linking moiety, L,
the amphiphile having the general formula (1)

[R5-L-N(R1)(R2)(R3)]+X−  (1)

wherein each of R1 and R2 is independently an alkyl group having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms; or the nitrogen atom and the R1 and R2 groups together form a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group;
R3 is optionally present; when present, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms which optionally bears a hydroxy group or a carboxy group at the 2-position;
L comprises an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group having at least 2 adjacent carbon atoms, at least one heteroatom selected from nitrogen and oxygen, and optionally one or more further heteroatoms;
R5 is a hydrocarbyl group having from 6 to 22 carbon atoms;
X− is present as an anion when R3 is present; and
B) from 5 to 95 weight-% of a cationic surfactant which is selected from the group consisting of quaternary benzyl ammonium salts having, in addition to the benzyl group, at least one C8-C18-alkyl group bound to the nitrogen atom.