Patent ID: 8084401

Claim:
A method for making a low volatility phosphate ester composition comprising the step of: contacting phosphorus pentoxide with an alkoxide donor under conditions of reaction temperature, reaction pressure and reaction time sufficient to form a phosphate ester product comprising a mixture of PO(OR)(OH) 2 and PO(OR) 2 (OH) with no or substantially no PO(OR) 3 , where the product has an acid value at pH 5 to 5.5 between about 190 and about 210, and an acid value at pH 9 to 9.5 between about 230 and about 260, and produces reduced amounts of or no volatile phosphorus-containing compounds at temperatures up to about 250° C., where alkoxide donor comprises a mono-alkyl-phosphate, di-alkyl-phosphate, tri-alkyl-phosphate, or a mixture thereof and an alcohol, where the alkyl groups and the alcohol all have at least 4 carbon atoms and where one or more of carbon atoms can be oxygen and where the reaction temperature is between about 200° F. (93.3° C.) and about 300° F. (148.9° C.) and where the composition is adapted for use in oil and/or gas production and stimulation, while reducing phosphorus-containing deposition on downstream separation equipment.