Hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine oxygen scavengers for use in aqueous media

Abstract: Hydroxyalkyl substituted hydroxylamines of the general formula HON-[CH₂-CH(OH)-(CH₂) n -CH₃]₂ wherein n ranges from 0 to about 10 have been found to be effective oxygen scavengers for aqueous systems such as, for example, industrial water systems. The scavenger may be catalyzed with a compound such as, for example, copper, hydroquinone, benzoquinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid, pyrogallol or t-butylcatechol.

Description: The present invention relates to oxygen scavengers for aqueous systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of catalyzed and non-catalyzed hydroxyalkylhydroxylamines as oxygen scavengers in aqueous systems such as for example, boiler systems. From a corrosion point of view, the presence of certain dissolved gases, even in small amounts, is undesirable in water systems which contact metal surfaces. For example, metal surfaces in contact with oxygen containing water can experience severe pitting in industrial water systems. Pitting is highly localized corrosion affecting only a small area of the total metal surface. This can be a serious problem causing metal failure even though only a small amount of metal is lost and the overall corrosion rate is relatively low. With respect to oxygen, the severity of attack will depend upon the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water, pH and temperature. As water temperature increases, as for example in a water heating system such as a boiler, enough driving force is added to the corrosion reaction that small amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water can cause serious problems. Oxygen pitting is considered a most serious problem in boiler systems, even where only trace amounts of oxygen are present. Deaeration is a widely used method for removing oxygen from an oxygen-containing aqueous medium. It is particularly useful for treating boiler feedwater and can be either mechanical or chemical. While vacuum deaeration has proven to be a useful mechanical deaeration method for treating water distributing systems, boiler feedwater is treated using pressure deaeration with steam as the purge gas. According to the pressure deaeration method for preparing boiler feedwater, the water is sprayed into a steam atmosphere and is heated to a temperature at which the solubility of oxygen in the water is low. Typically greater than 99% of the oxygen in the feedwater is released to the steam and is purged from the system by venting. Mechanical deaeration is considered an important first step in removing dissolved oxygen from boiler feedwater. However, as already noted, as water temperature increases, even trace amounts of dissolved oxygen can cause serious problems. Accordingly, supplemental chemical deaeration is required. For boilers operated below 6895 kPa (1000 pounds per square inch (psi)), catalyzed sodium sulphite is commonly used as an oxygen scavenger for the chemical deaeration of the feedwater. The oxygen/sulphite reaction can be effectively catalyzed by iron, copper, cobalt, nickel, and/or manganese. While the sodium sulphite oxygen scavenger is often used with success, this material does have recognised limitations. At boiler operating pressures of 6205 to 6895 kPa (900 to 1000 psi) and above, increased dissolved solids from the sulphite/oxygen reaction product can become a significant problem. Also, at high pressures the sulphite decomposes in the boiler to form sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide, both of which can cause corrosion in the return condensate system. Hydrazine is also used as an oxygen scavenger. Hydrazine does not have the above noted high pressure limitation of sodium sulphite. For example, since the products of the hydrazine/oxygen reaction are water and nitrogen, no solids are added to the boiler water. Hydrazine as an oxygen scavenger does, however, have its own limitations. A major problem relates to the toxicity of hydrazine. Also, the hydrazine/oxygen reaction is very slow at low temperatures which may be encountered in some sections of a boiler system. The decomposition products of hydrazine are ammonia and nitrogen. The ammonia can be aggressive to copper or copper bearing metallurgies that are found in condensate systems. In recent developments, the use of certain compounds such as dioxo-aromatic compounds or organically substituted derivatives thereof has become known. The group "dioxo-aromatic" consists of benzoquinone, napthoquinone, hydroquinone and catechol. The phrase "organically substituted derivatives thereof" includes any such dioxo-aromatic compound having an organic substituent with a carbon atom attached directly to the aromatic ring. An example of such a derivative is 4-tert-butylcatechol. The use of quinones and diols as catalysts for the hydrazine/oxygen reaction in an aqueous medium is well known, for example, US-A- 3 551 349 (Kallfass). US-A-3 843 547 (Kaufman) discloses the use of a combination of an aryl amine compound and a quinone compound as a catalyst for a hydrazine oxygen scavenger. Indeed, in the context of the prior art, wherein the use of quinones as catalysts for hydrazine/oxygen scavengers is well known, it was also discovered that some dioxo-aromatic compounds performed very well alone as oxygen scavengers. Such compounds are less toxic than hydrazine and also demonstrate greater reactivity at room temperature. The use of dioxo-aromatic compounds in combination with select neutralising amines, classified as "mu-amines", is described in US-A- 4 279 767 (Muccitelli) and US-A-4 289 645 (Muccitelli). The use of hydroxylamine, certain of its water soluble salts and derivatives of hydroxylamine which serve as oxygen scavengers, is disclosed in US-A-4 067 690. The hydroxylamines described as useful as oxygen scavengers have the general formula R₁R₂NOR₃ wherein R₁, R₂ and R₃ are either the same or different and selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl having 1 to about 8 carbon atoms, and aryl such as phenyl, benzyl, and tolyl. The hydroxylamine oxygen scavengers disclosed in US-A- 4 067 690 may be catalyzed with a number of well-known catalysts as used in sodium sulphite or hydrazine boiler water treatment such as hydroquinone and benzoquinone as well as alkaline metal hydroxides, and water soluble metal salts. The present invention is directed to the discovery that hydroxylamines having hydroxyalkyl substitutions provide effective oxygen scavengers. The material may be catalyzed with a small amount of materials such as, for example, hydroxylated aromatic compound or copper. The oxygen scavengers used in the present invention have relatively high boiling points. According to the present invention there is provided a method of reducing the amount of oxygen in an oxygen containing aqueous medium which comprises adding to the oxygen containing aqueous medium a hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine having the general formula HON-[CH₂-CH(OH)-(CH₂) n -CH₃]₂ wherein n ranges from 0 to 10. It has now been discovered that hydroxyalkylhydroxylamines are more effective oxygen scavengers than the prior art oxygen scavenger N,N-diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) and similar alkyl hydroxylamines. As with the prior art oxygen scavengers, catalysts such as, for example, hydroquinone may be employed. The prior art problem of the low solubility of hydroquinone in aqueous media is minimized by the use of low concentrations of hydroquinone as a catalyst for the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine oxygen scavenger used in the present invention. The preferred hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine used in the present invention are N,N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)hydroxylamine (HPHA), N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)hydroxylamine (HEHA), and N,N-bis(2-hydroxybutyl)hydroxylamine (HBHA). It has been particularly discovered that hydroxyalkyl hydroxylamines either alone or catalyzed, provide improved oxygen scavenging under conditions encountered in a typical boiler system. The oxygen scavengers used in the present invention combine low toxicity, are relatively easy to manufacture, and add no solids to the boiler system. They also provide good oxygen scavenging ability at typical deaerator temperatures and moderate reactivity at room temperatures which minimises storage and handling problems. The improved oxygen scavengers used in the present invention comprise a hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine of the general formula HON-[CH₂-CH(OH)-(CH₂) n -CH₃]₂ wherein n can range from 0 to about 10. A catalyst may be employed to accelerate the reaction of the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine with oxygen to rates which are of practical use in low temperature areas of a boiler system or when reaction times are short. Catalysts which have been found to be effective include hydroxylated aromatics as well as copper. Preferred hydroxyalkylhydroxylamines include: N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)hydroxylamine (n=0); N,N-bis)2-hydroxypropyl)hydroxylamine (n=1); and N,N-bis(2-hydroxybutyl)hydroxylamine (n=2). N,N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)hydroxylamine is particularly preferred. Catalysts which have been found to be effective include hydroquinone (HQ), benzoquinone, pyrogallol, t-butyl catechol, copper and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid. 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid has been found to be particularly effective. The hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine used in the present invention can be added to an aqueous system in amounts ranging from about 5 parts per billion up to about 100 parts per million. Preferably the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine is added to an aqueous system in concentrations ranging from about 5 up to about 200 parts per billion. The percentage of catalyst can range from 0 up to about 25% catalyst. The effectiveness of the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine oxygen scavengers used in the present invention is evidenced by the following examples wherein oxygen scavenging ability was tested at both room temperature and at temperatures corresponding to those expected in a typical boiler system deaerator. The present invention will now be further described with reference to a number of specific examples which are to be regarded as illustrative. With particular reference to such specific examples, the accompanying Drawings provide illustration of results of a field evaluation in graph form. In the accompanying Drawings:- Fig.1 is a graph showing parts per billion oxygen removed for a variety of oxygen scavengers, 5:1 series; Fig.2 is a graph showing parts per billion oxygen removed for a variety of oxygen scavengers, 1:1 series; Fig.3 is a graph showing parts per billion oxygen removed for a variety of oxygen scavengers, 0.5:1 series. Test Method Utilized The testing at room temperature was performed using a room temperature oxygen scavenging apparatus which consists of a three necked flask fitted with a dissolved oxygen electrode in one neck, a pH electrode in a second neck, and a rubber septum at a third neck. Aerated, demineralized water in the flask was adjusted to a fixed pH with sodium hydroxide and held at an equilibrium temperature fixed by a water bath surrounding the flask. Following injection of a scavenger/catalyst mixture through the rubber septum, the dissolved oxygen concentration was recorded as a function of time. The numbers shown in the following Tables are based upon the initial rates of reaction for each scavenger with dissolved oxygen. The rate is measured by the slope of the plot of log (oxygen concentration at a given time divided by initial oxygen concentration) versus the time in minutes. Because the rate of oxygen removal is measured, larger negative values indicate faster, more desirable reaction rates. Test Conditions for Tables 1, 2 and 3 Temperature: 28°C (83°F) pH: 10.0 pH adjustment with 1 N NaOH Water: Air saturated, demineralized Scavenger Concentration: 6.3 x 10⁻⁴ molar Organic Catalyst Concentration: 5.1 x 10⁻⁵ molar Initial Reaction Rates of HPHA/Catalyst Combination Treatment Rate HPHA alone, no catalyst -0.003 HPHA/hydroquinone -0.619 HPHA/1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonic acid -0.786 HPHA/benzoquinone -0.569 HPHA/copper (II) -0.260 HPHA/pyrogallol -0.204 HPHA/t-butylcatechol -0.062 Reaction Rates for the Series n = 0 to 2, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyalkyl)hydroxylamines with Hydroquinone Catalyst Treatment Reaction Rate HEHA/no catalyst -0.002 HEHA/HQ -0.337 HPHA/no catalyst -0.003 HPHA/HQ -0.619 HBHA no catalyst -0.002 HBHA/HQ -0.550 Initial Reaction Rates of Various Hydroxylamine/Catalyst Combinations Treatment Rate Diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA)/hydroquinone -0.215 Hydroxyethylhydroxylamine/hydroquinone -0.354 Dipropylhydroxylamine (DPHA)/ hydroquinone -0.163 Hydroxypropylhydroxylamine/hydroquinone -0.619 Dibutylhydroxylamine (DBHA)/hydroquinone -0.162 Hydroxybutylhydroxylamine/hydroquinone -0.426 Hydroxybutylhydroxylamine/hydroquinone -0.550 The data in Tables 1, 2, and 3 shows the desirability of a catalyst when the reaction temperatures are low. The significantly higher rate of reaction of the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamines with dissolved oxygen when compared to their non-hydroxylated alkyl analogues was unexpected. Experiments which approximate typical deaerator conditions were run in a moderate temperature scavenging test apparatus similar to those described in US-A- 4 289 645. Test Conditions for Table 4 and 5 Temperature: 135°C (275°F) pH: (25°C): 8.0 Residence Time at 275°F: 6 min. Flow Rate: 167 mL/min. Initial dissolved oxygen: 30 +/- 4 parts per billion Reaction coil: 12.2m x 1.27 cm (40 ft x 1/2 in) 316 stainless steel tube Total time in system: 9 minutes pH buffer: 1,059 ppm KH₂PO₄/286 ppm NaOH Buffer injection rate: 2.0 +/- 0.2 mL/min into 167 mL/min Catalyst concentration: 6.7 x 10⁻⁸ molar Scavenger concentration: 8.3 x 10⁻⁷ molar HPHA Testing in Moderate Temperature Oxygen Scavenging Test Apparatus Scav Catalyst 02/ w/out Scav 02/ with Scav 02 Removed ppb DEHA None 31.0 25.5 4.5 HPHA None 31.0 14.0 17.0 HPHA HQ 31.5 10.0 21.5 HPHA HQ 26.0 4.0 22.0 HPHA NS 29.8 5.0 24.8 HPHA PYRO 29.3 4.0 25.3 HPHA PG 30.0 4.4 26.0 HPHA PG 28.0 7.5 20.5 (HQ = hydroquinone, NS = 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphohic acid, PYRO = pyrogallol and PG = propyl gallate) The data in Table 4 shows that even at elevated temperatures, the non-hydroxylated hydroxylamine, DEHA, has little activity without a catalyst present. Conversely, HPHA, a hydroxylamine with hydroxylated alkyl substituent, shows good oxygen scavenging reactivity with or without the presence of a catalyst. Hydroxylamine Testing in Moderate Temperature Oxygen Scavenging Test Apparatus Scav Catalyst 02/ w/out Scav 02/ with Scav 02 Removed ppb DEHA HQ 27.0 12.0 15.0 DEHA HQ 32.0 16.0 16.0 HEHA HQ 30.5 10.0 20.5 DPHA HQ 32.0 20.0 12.0 HPHA HQ 26.0 4.0 22.0 HPHA HQ 31.5 10.0 21.5 DBHA HQ 30.5 19.0 11.5 HPHA HQ 30.0 3.5 26.5 Tables 4 and 5 illustrate the superior reactivity of the hydroxylamines having hydroxylated alkyl substituents over the analogous non-hydroxylated materials, even at elevated temperatures. A field evaluation was conducted at an operating cogeneration plant in a paper mill to compare the oxygen scavenging effectiveness of hydroquinone (HQ), hydroxypropylhydroxylamine (HPHA), diethylhydroxylamine (DEHA) and HQ catalyzed versions of HPHA and the DEHA. The 4137 kPa (600 pound per square inch) boiler provided steam to a gas turbine and to an extraction turbine. The condensate system included copper metallurgy which resulted in a copper concentration in the deaerator during the trial which ranged from 5 to 15 parts per billion and averaged 7.9 parts per billion. Evaluations were made at three approximately equal weight concentrations of scavenger to oxygen concentration of 5:1, 3:1, and 0.5:1. The ratios refer to a given molar stoichiometry of hydroquinone, with the other materials fed at the same rate. Thus, for each ratio the molar stoichiometry of hydroquinone for the amount of oxygen present was calculated and the feed rate of hydroquinone in parts per million was determined. The other scavengers were then fed at the same weight-based concentration. Figures 1, 2 and 3 showed the parts per billion of oxygen removed per mole of scavenger (Y axis) for the tested materials (X axis) at these ratios. As can be seen, at these test conditions, in an operating boiler system the HPHA of the present invention (either catalyzed or uncatalyzed) was significantly more effective than the prior art HQ or DEHA at removing oxygen. The increased effectiveness of the HPHA is less noticeable at the 5 to 1 ratio where an excess of oxygen scavenger is fed than at the 1 to 1 and 0.5 to 1 ratios which are more representative of the preferred feed rates of the present invention. As can be seen in all the Figures and Tables, in all cases the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamines are significantly more effective than the non-hydroxylated hydroxylamines. The effect is found at both room temperature and at deaerator temperatures in a boiler system.

Claims: A method of reducing the amount of oxygen in an oxygen containing aqueous medium which comprises adding to the oxygen containing aqueous medium a hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine having the general formula HON-[CH₂-CH(OH)-(CH₂) n -CH₃]₂ wherein n ranges from 0 to 10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine is added in the form of an aqueous solution. A method according to claim 1 or 2, for reducing the amount of dissolved oxygen in an aqueous boiler water system having up to about 50 parts per billion dissolved oxygen which comprises adding to the aqueous system a hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine as defined in claim 1 or an aqueous solution thereof as defined in claim 2. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine is selected from N,N,-bis(2-hydroxyethyl) hydroxylamine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl) hydroxylamine, and N,N-bis(2-hydroxybutyl) hydroxylamine. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine is added to the aqueous medium in an amount of from about 5 parts per billion (10⁹) up to about 100 parts per million. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there is also added to the aqueous medium a catalyst selected from copper, hydroquinone, benzoquinone, 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid, pyrogallol, and t-butylcatechol. A method according to claim 6, wherein the percentage of catalyst ranges up to about 25% catalyst. A method according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the hydroxyalkylhydroxylamine and catalyst are used in a ratio of from 0.5:1 to 1:1.

Inventors: BURGMAYER PAUL RICHARD, ROSSI ANTHONY MICHAEL, BURGMAYER, PAUL RICHARD, ROSSI, ANTHONY MICHAEL
Applicants: BETZ EUROP INC, BETZ EUROPE, INC.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C02F1
IPC codes: C23F11, C02F1