Patent ID: 9074037
Filing Date: 2015-07-07
Classification: C08F,C08L,C10L

Abstract:
1. A process for the preparation of an iron-containing polymer suitable for use as an additive in fuel, comprising the following steps: i) obtaining or preparing an aqueous solution of either one or more iron (II) salts, iron (III) salts, or a mixture of iron (II) salts and iron (III) salts; i)(a) permitting or causing the oxidation of iron (II) ions to iron (III) ions, by exposure to air and/or other oxidizing agent; ii) adding thereto a weak base, in a stepwise manner, whilst continuously stirring the reaction medium over the course of base addition; iii) wherein the total amount of base added over the course of step ii) is such as to provide a molar ratio of iron to total base added in the range of 1:2.5 to 1:3.5, and to obtain a wet precipitate; iv) reacting the wet precipitate from step iii) under reflux, in an organic solvent, with a tertiary nitrogenous base and one or more polycarboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof, the water evolved over the course of the reaction being removed; v) wherein at least one polycarboxylic acid and/or derivative employed in step iv) comprises a branched-chain hydrocarbyl substituent containing at least 14 carbon atoms, and wherein the total amount of all polycarboxylic acids and/or derivatives thereof employed in step iv) is such as to provide the reaction mixture with a molar ratio of iron to total carboxylic groups including any derivatives thereof in the range of 1:1 and 3:1; and vi) removing the resulting solid polymer material.