# Patent

## Title
Process and apparatus for separating fluids

## Abstract

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 583,526, filed Feb. 24, 1984, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,396.

## Background
The use of methylenephosphonic acid substituted alkylene polyamines for metal ion control at less than stoichiometric amounts was suggested in a patent to Bersworth (U.S. Pat. No. 2,609,390) in 1952. Later a water dispersible polymeric amine chelating agent which included alkylene phosphonate derivatives was indicated as having "threshold" effects in scale inhibition applications U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,773), this term being used to describe the use of the agent in less than stoichiometric amounts. The diamine and polyamine methylenephosphonate derivatives are taught and claimed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,336,221 and 3,434,969, respectively. Some of the products disclosed in these two patents are available commercially and are recommended as scale inhibitors which applied in threshold amounts.

Some other patents which disclose heterocyclic nitrogen containing compounds which are useful as chelating agents and may be employed in threshold amounts are U.S. Pat. No. 3,674,804; 3,720,498; 3,743,603; 3,859,211; and 3,954,761. Some of the compounds included therein are heterocyclic compounds having the formulas: ##STR1## wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl and M is hydrogen, alkali metal, ammonium or a di- or triethanolamine radical; ##STR2##

Methylenephosphonates of polyalkylene polyamines, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,110, are made by reacting di- or polyamines with a chain extending agent such as a dihalide or an epoxyhalide, e.g. ethylene dichloride or epichlorohydrin and thereafter, with phosphorous acid and formaldehyde. Thus, for example, triethylenetetramine is reacted with epichlorohydrin in an approximately one to one mole ratio; thereafter the product is reacted with phosphorous acid, and formaldehyde in the presence of hydrochloric acid. The resulting methylenephosphonated polyamine is useful in small amounts as a scale inhibitor, being employed at concentrations of 20-50 ppm.

Certain phosphonic acid derivatives of the aliphatic acids can be prepared by reacting phosphorous acid with acid anhydrides or acid chlorides, e.g. the anhydrides or chlorides of acetic, propionic and valeric acids. The compounds prepared have the formula ##STR3## wherein R is a lower alkyl radical having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. The method of making and use of these products is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,214,454. It discloses and claims the use of threshold amounts to prevent calcium precipitation in aqueous solutions.

It has now been found that certain phosphonate derivatives of bis(aminoalkyl) piperazines are good threshold agents to prevent metal ion precipitation in aqueous solutions. They also function as sequestering and/or chelating agents as do those which do not contain the phosphonate group.

While the trimethylenephosphonate of aminoethylpiperazine itself has been shown not to have very good threshold activity, the related derivatives of bis(aminoalkyl) piperazine are quite effective.

The compounds from which the methylenephosphonates are derived have the formula ##STR4## wherein n is 2 or 3.

These compounds can be made from piperazine and acrylonitrile or glycolonitrile, followed by reduction to the amine. The bis(aminopropyl) compound is commercially available.

The bis-amine is then reacted with phosphorus acid and formaldehyde (or a source of formaldehyde) as shown in Example 1 below. This phosphonomethylation is known to the art and is shown in a number of patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,336,221 and 4,051,110.

The compounds produced by this phosphonomethylation which are the subject of the present invention have the formula ##STR5## wherein n is 2 or 3 and wherein substituents A, B, X and Y each are independently selected from radicals consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyalkyl (wherein the alkyl group contains 2-6 carbon atoms), methylenephosphonic, methylene-, ethylene- and propylene-sulfonic, hydroxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropyl-sulfonic acid radicals, carboxylic acid radicals (having 2-4 carbon atoms) and the alkali or alkaline earth metal, ammonia and amine salts of any of the phosphonic, sulfonic or carboxylic acid derivatives. At least one of the substituents must be other than a hydrogen.

All the above substituents for the hydrogens of the amine groups of the above bis amine compounds form useful chelating agents, but only the methylenephosphonic acid substituted compounds and their alkali or alkaline earth metal, ammonium or amine salt derivatives are effective as threshold agents.

The following examples show the preparation of the subject compounds and their use as threshold and chelating agents.

Deionized water (10 g) and 20.0 g (0.10 mole) of bis(aminopropyl)piperazine were weighed into a 250-ml round-bottom reaction flask equipped with a water-cooled reflux condenser, mechanical stirrer, thermometer with a temperature controller, and an addition funnel. Approximately 40 g of concentrated HCl solution and 38.5 g (0.47 mole) of phosphorous acid were added to the aqueous amine solution and the reaction mixture heated to reflux and maintained for one hour. Aqueous 37% formaldehyde solution (34.0 g-0.42 mole) was added to the addition funnel and added over a one-hour period. The reaction mixture was heated at reflux for an additional four hours and then cooled. The product was the completely phosphonomethylated bis(aminopropyl)piperazine.

In like manner other experiments were conducted except that different amounts of reactants were used and some of the products were neutralized with caustic. Conditions are listed in Table I below. ______________________________________ Bis Example* amine   Amt.    HCl  H.sub.3 PO.sub.3 HCHO  NaOH ______________________________________ 2       amino-    20 g  40 g 0.35   0.32  -- propyl               mole   mole 3       amino-  17.2 g  40 g 0.47   0.42  neut. ethyl                mole   mole 4       amino-  17.2 g  40 g 0.35   0.32  neut. ethyl                mole   mole ______________________________________ *The products are identified as follows: Example 2 contained three mole equivalents of methylenephosphonic acid functionality and one mole equivalent of hydrogen functionality. Example 3 contained four mole equivalents of methylenephosphonic acid functionality in the sodium form. Example 4 contained the same functionalities and ratios as in Example 2.

The procedure of Example 4 was repeated and the reaction product carboxymethylated using 0.12 mole of aqueous glycolonitrile (HOCH.sub.2 C.tbd.N) in the presence of excess caustic to produce the sodium salt. The product contained an average of one mole equivalent of carboxymethyl functionality and three mole equivalents of methylenephosphonic acid functionality, all in the sodium form.

Deionized water (15.2 g) and 16.2 g (0.094 mole) of bis(aminoethyl)piperazine were weighed into a 250-ml round-bottom reaction flask equipped with a water-cooled reflux condenser, mechanical stirrer, thermometer with a temperature controller, and an addition funnel. Caustic solution (2.2 g of 50%) and 18.7 g (0.095 mole) of 3-chloro-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid, sodium salt were added with stirring and the reaction mixture heated at 90.degree. C. for two hours. Approximately 43 g of concentrated HCl solution and 33.1 g (0.28 mole) of 70% aqueous phosphorous acid solution were added and the reaction mixture heated to reflux and maintained for one hour. Aqueous 37% formaldehyde solution (22.9 g-0.28 mole) was added to the addition funnel and added over about a one-hour period. The reaction mixture was heated at reflux for an additional 21/2 hours and then cooled. The final product solution was neutralized with potassium hydroxide solution. It contained an average of one mole equivalent of hydroxypropylsulfonate functionality and three mole equivalents of methylenephosphonate functionality.

The procedure of Example 6 was followed using 18.8 g (0.094 mole) of bis(aminopropyl)piperazine. The final product solution was not neutralized. It contained the same functional groups and ratios as Example 6 above, but derived from the bis(aminopropyl)piperazine, in the acid rather than salt form.

Propylene oxide (7 g-0.12 mole) was reacted with 16.2 g (0.094 mole) of bis(aminoethyl)piperazine and the reaction product then phosphonomethylated according to the procedure of Example 1 using 0.28 mole of phosphorous acid and formaldehyde solution. The final product solution was neutralized with KOH solution. It contained an average of one mole equivalent of hydroxypropyl functionality and three mole equivalents of methylenephosphonate functionality.

Bis(aminoethyl)piperazine was reacted with glycolonitrile in the presence of excess caustic to produce the tetrasodium salt of bis(aminoethyl)piperazine-tetraacetic acid.

Aminoethyl piperazine (AEP) was phosphonomethylated to obtain aminoethylpiperazine trimethylenephosphonic acid, the completely phosphonated AEP.

To show the utility of the above compounds as scale inhibitors, the following test was run.

The compounds were evaluated as scale inhibitors for calcium carbonate scale according to National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) test method TM-03-74. The results are shown in Table II. Note the dramatic improvement of the phosphonic acids prepared from the bis(aminoethyl)piperazine and bis(aminopropyl)piperazine compounds of this invention when compared to aminoethylpiperazinetrimethylenephosphonic acid taught in the U.S. patent literature as a good scale inhibition compound. ______________________________________ Scale Inhibition Data Concentration* Precent Inhibition at Compound  (ppm)       24 Hrs.  48 Hrs. 72 Hrs. ______________________________________ Example A 10          77       65     60 (comparative) Example 1 10          99       93     90 Example 2 10          99       93     91 Example 3 10          99       91     89 Example 4 10          97       87     79 Example 5 10          96       89     83 Example 6 10          85       73     75 Example 7 10          92       77     79 Example 8 10          79       77     73 Example 9** 10          55       51     50 Blank (none) --          52       51     50 ______________________________________ *ppm based on active acid content **this is not a good threshold compound, but see below for utility as chelating or sequestering agent

The compounds of this invention can also function as sequestering/chelating agents. For example, compounds were titrated with standard copper solution in the presence of chrome azurol-S indicator. The compound of Example 9 complexed about one mole of copper per mole of ligand. Thus the compound of Example 9,  although ineffective as a threshold compound, can be utilized as a chelating agent. The compound of Example 3 was titrated and found to complex approximately three moles of copper per mole of ligand. The compound can function as either a threshold compound or a chelating agent.

The compounds of the invention which contain one or more methylenephosphonic acid radicals as substituents on the primary amine nitrogens can be used as threshold agents to prevent the precipitation of alkaline earth metal ions, e.g. Ca.sup.++, Mg.sup.++, Ba.sup.++, and the like. They are employed at substoichiometric amounts based on the metal ions present, the precipitation of which is to be prevented.

These and the remaining compounds which do not contain the methylene phosphonate radical may be employed as chelating agents when used at or near stoichiometric quantities.

## Claims

1. A process for inhibiting the precipitation of metal ions from their aqueous solutions, wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, which comprises adding to said solutions in threshold amounts a compound of the formula ##STR6## wherein n is 2 or 3 and wherein substituents A, B, X and Y each are independently selected from radicals consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyalkyl (wherein the alkyl group contains 2-6 carbon atoms), methylenephosphonic, hydroxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroypropylsulfonic acid radicals, carboxylic acid rasdicals (having 2-4 carbon atoms) and the alkali, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and amine salts of any of the phosphonic, sulfonic or carboxylic acid derivatives, and wherein at least one of said substituents is a methylenephosphonic acid radical or a salt thereof.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein n is 2.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein each of A, B, X and Y are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and R is hydrogen or an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

4. The process of claim 2 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is hydrogen.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein at least one of the phosphonic acid substituents is in the salt form.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

7. The process of claim 2 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 COOH.

8. The process of claim 7 wherein the acid groups are at least partly in the salt form.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

10. The process of claim 2 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 R wherein R is hydrogen, or an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein at least part of the R groups are sodium.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein n is 3.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein each of A, B, X and Y are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and R is hydrogen or an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substitutents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is hydrogen.

15. The process of claim 14 wherein at least one of the phosphonic acid substituents is in the salt form.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

17. The process of claim 12 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 COOH.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the acid groups are at least partly in the salt form.

19. The process of claim 18 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

20. The process of claim 12 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 R wherein R is hydrogen, or an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

21. The process of claim 20 wherein at least part of the R groups are sodium.

22. A process for chelating metal ions in an aqueous solution thereof, wherein the metal is capable of forming a ligand complex, which comprises adding thereto at least a stoichiometric amount, based on the metal ions present, of a compound of the formula ##STR7## wherein n is 2 or 3 and wherein substitutents A, B, X and Y each are independently selected from radicals consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyalkyl (wherein the alkyl group contains 2-6 carbon atoms), methylenephosphonic, hydroxymethyl-, hydroxyethyl- and hydroxypropylsulfonic acid radicals, carboxylic acid radicals (having 2-4 carbon atoms) and the alkali, alkaline earth metal, ammonium and amine salts of any of the phosphonic, sulfonic or carboxylic acid derivatives, and wherein at least one of A, B, X and Y is other than hydrogen.

23. The process of claim 22 wherein n is 2.

24. The process of claim 23 wherein each of A, B, X and Y are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and R is a hydrogen an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

25. The process of claim 23 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is hydrogen.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein the phosphonic acid substituents are at least partly in the salt form.

27. The process of claim 26 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

28. The process of claim 23 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substitutents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 COOH.

29. The process of claim 28 wherein the acid groups are at least partly in the salt form.

30. The process of claim 29 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

31. The process of claim 23 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 R wherein R is hydrogen, an alkali or alkaline earth metal.

32. The process of claim 31 wherein at least part of the R groups are sodium.

33. The process of claim 22 wherein n is 3.

34. The process of claim 33 wherein each of A, B, X and Y are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and R is a hydrogen, an alkali or an alkaline earth metal atom.

35. The process of claim 33 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is hydrogen.

36. The process of claim 35 wherein the phosphonic acid substituents are at least partly in the salt form.

37. The process of claim 36 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

38. The process of claim 33 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 H.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 COOH.

39. The process of claim 38 wherein the acid groups are at least partly in the salt form.

40. The process of claim 39 wherein the salt is a sodium salt.

41. The process of claim 33 wherein three of A, B, X and Y substituents are --CH.sub.2 PO.sub.3 R.sub.2 and the remaining one is --CH.sub.2 CH(OH)CH.sub.2 SO.sub.3 R wherein R is hydrogen, and alkali or alkaline earth metal.

42. The process of claim 41 wherein at least part of the R groups are sodium.