Freeze stable tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate formulations

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 10098341
  • Patent Number
    10,098,341
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, March 15, 2016
    8 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 16, 2018
    5 years ago
Abstract
A composition comprising:
Description

This invention relates to formulations of tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS) which do not freeze when stored at low temperatures.


Formulations of biocidal active ingredients often are stored or used under conditions including extremely low temperatures, including, e.g., oil and gas extraction. Compositions containing THPS and various solvents have been reported in the literature, but compositions which are stable at low temperatures are not known. For example, WO2015/017705 discloses compositions containing THPS and various solvents, but this reference does not suggest the compositions claimed herein.


STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising:


(a) tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS); (b) water; and (c) methanol; wherein the weight percentages of (a), (b) and (c) are within the area on a ternary phase diagram for (a), (b) and (c) bounded by four points: (A) 5% THPS/58% water/37% methanol; (B) 5% THPS/36% water/59% methanol; (C) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol; and (D) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol.


The present invention is further directed to a composition comprising about 50% THPS/28% water/22% methanol.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a ternary phase diagram for THPS/water/methanol, with the claimed area marked by the points A, B, C and D, which are the vertices of a quadrilateral. The symbol “▴” indicates a point for which the mixture of that composition is a free-flowing single liquid phase after 24 hour storage at −40° C. The symbol “▪” indicates a point for which the mixture is solid under these conditions and “♦” indicates a point for which the mixture contains either both liquid and solid or two liquid phases under these conditions.



FIG. 2 is a ternary phase diagram for THPS/water/ethylene glycol. The symbols are the same as those indicated for FIG. 1.



FIG. 3 is a ternary phase diagram for THPS/water/propylene glycol. The symbols are the same as those indicated for FIG. 1.



FIG. 4 is a ternary phase diagram for THPS/water/glycerine. The symbols are the same as those indicated for FIG. 1.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise specified, temperatures are in degrees centigrade (° C.), and references to percentages are by weight (wt %). All operations were performed at room temperature (20-25° C.), unless otherwise specified.


Compositions within the scope of this invention are those for which the weight percentages of (a), (b) and (c) are within the triangle defined by the three points, A, B and C listed above on a ternary phase diagram for THPS, water and methanol. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition is within the area defined by the points: (E) 9% THPS/56% water/35% methanol; (F) 9% THPS/36% water/55% methanol; (G) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol; and (H) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol. The composition may contain small amounts of other ingredients, e.g., solvents, process impurities associated with the commercial active ingredient, surfactants, defoamer agents, dispersing agents, brand identification markers; preferably no more than 5 wt % of other ingredients, preferably no more than 4 wt %, preferably no more than 3 wt %, preferably no more than 2 wt %, preferably no more than 1 wt %, preferably no more than 0.5 wt %, preferably no more than 0.3 wt %. A composition containing other ingredients is evaluated by normalizing the total of the weight percentages of THPS, water and methanol to 100%; the composition is within the scope of the present invention if the point on a ternary phase diagram representing these normalized amounts is within the stated area.


In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the composition is within the area defined by the points: (I) 25% THPS/48% water/27% methanol; (J) 25% THPS/33% water/42% methanol; (K) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol and (L) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol; preferably (M) 35% THPS/43% water/22% methanol; (N) 35% THPS/32% water/33% methanol; (O) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol; and (P) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol.


The composition of the present invention is a free-flowing liquid even after storage at −40° C. Known aqueous solutions of THPS are not physically stable under these conditions. The prior art provided no indication that one could make a solution of THPS that would not freeze or phase-separate at −40° C.


EXAMPLES
Example 1

To a glass sample vial was added: (i) commercial aqueous solution of bis[tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate containing 76.5 wt % THPS and (ii) water, or an alcohol selected from methanol, ethanol or isopropanol (IPA), or a combination of water and one of the listed alcohols in an amount sufficient to produce a 20 g sample. Each sample was then placed in a −40° C. freezer. The samples were observed after 24 hours and the physical form was noted in Table 1. Reexamination of the samples after several days revealed them to be unchanged from the original observation. Only those samples diluted with a combination of water and methanol appeared as free flowing homogeneous liquids.









TABLE 1







Impact of Alcohol Diluents













Sample
THPS
Water
Alcohol
MeOH
EtOH
IPA
















control
76.5%
23.5%
0.0%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


water only
61.2%
38.8%
0.0%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


water only
51.0%
49.0%
0.0%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


water only
25.5%
74.5%
0.0%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


Alcohol
61.2%
18.8%
20.0%
small bi-
bi-layer
bi-layer


Only



layer liquid
liquid
liquid


Alcohol
51.0%
15.7%
33.3%
bi-layer
bi-layer
bi-layer


Only



liquid
liquid
liquid


Alcohol
25.5%
7.8%
66.7%
bi-layer
bi-layer
bi-layer


Only



liquid/solid
liquid
liquid


Equal Blend
61.2%
28.8%
10.0%
Free flowing
Frozen
Frozen






liquid


Equal Blend
51.0%
32.3%
16.7%
Free flowing
Frozen
Frozen






liquid


Equal Blend
25.5%
41.2%
33.3%
Free flowing
Frozen
Frozen






liquid


Low
61.2%
33.8%
5.0%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


Alcohol


Low
51.0%
40.7%
8.3%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


Alcohol


Low
25.5%
57.8%
16.7%
Frozen
Frozen
Frozen


Alcohol


High
61.2%
23.8%
15.0%
bi-layer
bi-layer
bi-layer


Alcohol



liquid
liquid
liquid/solid


High
51.0%
24.0%
25.0%
bi-layer
bi-layer
bi-layer


Alcohol



liquid
liquid
liquid/solid


High
25.5%
24.5%
50.0%
bi-layer
bi-layer
bi-layer


Alcohol



liquid
liquid
liquid/solid









Example 2

To a glass sample vial was added commercial solution of bis[tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate solution, water and methanol in an amount sufficient to produce a 20 g sample. The composition of each sample is shown below in table 2. Each sample was then placed in a −40° C. freezer. The samples were observed after 24 hours and the physical form was noted in Table 2. Reexamination of the samples after several days revealed them to be unchanged from the original observation.












TABLE 2





THPS
Water
Methanol
Condition







  10%
  10%
  80%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
20.0%
70.0%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
25.0%
65.0%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
35.0%
55.0%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
45.0%
45.0%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
55.0%
35.0%
Free flowing liquid


10.0%
60.0%
30.0%
Frozen


10.0%
70.0%
20.0%
Frozen


  15%
  25%
  60%
Free flowing liquid


20.0%
20.0%
60.0%
Bi-layer liquid


20.0%
30.0%
50.0%
Bi-layer liquid


25.0%
30.0%
45.0%
bi-layer liquid


25.0%
32.5%
42.5%
Free flowing liquid


25.0%
35.0%
40.0%
Free flowing liquid


25.0%
45.0%
30.0%
Free flowing liquid


25.0%
48.0%
27.0%
Free flowing liquid


25.0%
50.0%
25.0%
Frozen


25.5%
 7.8%
66.7%
bi-layer liquid/solid


25.5%
24.5%
50.0%
bi-layer liquid


25.5%
41.2%
33.3%
Free flowing liquid


25.5%
57.8%
16.7%
Frozen


25.5%
74.5%
 0.0%
Frozen


30.0%
30.0%
40.0%
Bi-layer liquid


30.0%
35.0%
35.0%
Bi-layer liquid


  30%
  35%
  35%
Free flowing liquid


30.0%
42.5%
27.5%
Free flowing liquid


30.0%
47.0%
23.0%
Frozen


30.0%
57.0%
13.0%
Frozen


40.0%
30.0%
30.0%
bi-layer liquid


40.0%
33.0%
27.0%
Free flowing liquid


40.0%
40.0%
20.0%
Free flowing liquid


40.0%
42.0%
18.0%
Free flowing liquid


  40%
  45%
  15%
Frozen


50.0%
37.0%
13.0%
Frozen


50.0%
  28%
  22%
Free flowing liquid


51.0%
15.7%
33.3%
bi-layer liquid


51.0%
24.0%
25.0%
bi-layer liquid


51.0%
32.3%
16.7%
Free flowing liquid


51.0%
40.7%
 8.3%
Frozen


51.0%
49.0%
 0.0%
Frozen


  60%
  27%
  13%
Free flowing liquid


61.2%
18.8%
20.0%
small bi-layer liquid


61.2%
23.8%
15.0%
bi-layer liquid


61.2%
28.8%
10.0%
Free flowing liquid


61.2%
30.8%
 8.0%
Free flowing liquid


61.2%
33.8%
 5.0%
Frozen


61.2%
38.8%
 0.0%
Frozen


70.0%
25.0%
 5.0%
Frozen


76.5%
23.5%
 0.0%
Frozen









Example 3. (Comparative)

To a glass sample vial was added commercial solution of bis[tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate solution, water and ethylene glycol in an amount sufficient to produce a 20 g sample. The composition of each sample is shown below in Table 3. Each sample was then placed in a −40° C. freezer. The samples were observed after 24 hours and the physical form was noted in Table 3. Reexamination of the samples after several days revealed them to be unchanged from the original observation.









TABLE 3







Ethylene Glycol.










THPS
Water
Ethylene Glycol
Condition













10.0%
40.0%
50.0%
Liquid


25.0%
35.0%
40.0%
Liquid


25.5%
7.8%
66.7%
Frozen


25.5%
24.5%
50.0%
Slightly Viscous





Liquid


25.5%
41.2%
33.3%
Frozen


25.5%
57.8%
16.7%
Frozen


25.5%
74.5%
0.0%
Frozen


38.0%
34.5%
27.5%
Partially Frozen


50.0%
30.0%
20.0%
Partially Frozen


51.0%
15.7%
33.3%
Slightly Viscous





Liquid


51.0%
24.0%
25.0%
Slightly Viscous





Liquid


51.0%
32.3%
16.7%
Frozen


51.0%
40.7%
8.3%
Frozen


51.0%
49.0%
0.0%
Frozen


61.2%
18.8%
20.0%
Frozen


61.2%
23.8%
15.0%
Slightly Viscous





Liquid


61.2%
28.8%
10.0%
Frozen


61.2%
33.8%
5.0%
Frozen


61.2%
38.8%
0.0%
Frozen


65.0%
25.0%
10.0%
Partially Frozen


68.9%
21.2%
10.0%
Viscous Liquid


76.5%
23.5%
0.0%
Frozen









Example 4. (Comparative)

To a glass sample vial was added commercial solution of bis[tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate solution, water and propylene glycol in an amount sufficient to produce a 20 g sample. The composition of each sample is shown below in Table 4. Each sample was then placed in a −40° C. freezer. The samples were observed after 24 hours and the physical form was noted in Table 4. Reexamination of the samples after several days revealed them to be unchanged from the original observation.









TABLE 4







Propylene Glycol.










THPS
Water
Propylene Glycol
Condition





  25%
  15%
  60%
Very Viscous


  25%
  35%
  40%
Slightly viscous





liquid


25.5%
 7.8%
66.7%
Very viscous liquid


25.5%
24.5%
50.0%
Slightly viscous





liquid


25.5%
41.2%
33.3%
Frozen


25.5%
57.8%
16.7%
Frozen


25.5%
74.5%
 0.0%
Frozen


  40%
  20%
  40%
Very viscous liquid


  40%
  30%
  30%
Frozen


  40%
  40%
  20%
Frozen


51.0%
15.7%
33.3%
Very viscous liquid


51.0%
24.0%
25.0%
Slightly viscous





liquid


51.0%
32.3%
16.7%
Frozen


51.0%
40.7%
 8.3%
Frozen


51.0%
49.0%
 0.0%
Frozen


61.2%
18.8%
20.0%
Very viscous liquid


61.2%
23.8%
15.0%
Slightly viscous





liquid


61.2%
28.8%
10.0%
Frozen


61.2%
33.8%
 5.0%
Frozen


61.2%
38.8%
 0.0%
Frozen


76.5%
23.5%
 0.0%
Frozen









Example 5. (Comparative)

To a glass sample vial was added commercial solution of bis[tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium] sulfate solution, water and glycerine in an amount sufficient to produce a 20 g sample. The composition of each sample is shown below in table 2. Each sample was then placed in a −40° C. freezer. The samples were observed after 24 hours and the physical form was noted in table 1. Reexamination of the samples after several days revealed them to be unchanged from the original observation.









TABLE 5







Glycerin.










THPS
Water
Glycerine
Condition





20%
20%
60%
Very viscous liquid


20%
30%
50%
Slightly viscous





liquid


20%
40%
40%
Frozen


30%
15%
55%
Very viscous liquid


30%
25%
45%
Viscous liquid


30%
35%
35%
Frozen


40%
20%
40%
Viscous liquid


45%
15%
40%
Very Very viscous





liquid


54%
16%
30%
Very viscous liquid


57%
18%
25%
Very viscous liquid


61%
19%
20%
Viscous liquid








Claims
  • 1. A composition comprising: (a) tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium sulfate (THPS); (b) water; and (c) methanol; wherein the weight percentages of (a), (b) and (c), normalized to total 100%, are within an area on a ternary phase diagram bounded by four points: (A) 5% THPS/58% water/37% methanol; (B) 5% THPS/36% water/59% methanol; (C) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol; and (D) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol; wherein the composition comprises no more than 5 wt % of substances other than (a), (b) and (c).
  • 2. The composition of claim 1 in which the area is defined by points: (E) 9% THPS/57% water/34% methanol; (F) 9% THPS/34% water/57% methanol; (G) 65% THPS/27% water/8% methanol; and (H) 65% THPS/29% water/6% methanol.
  • 3. The composition of claim 1 in which the composition comprises no more than 1 wt % of substances other than (a), (b) and (c).
  • 4. A composition comprising about 50% THPS/28% water/22% methanol.
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/US2016/022412 3/15/2016 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO2016/149236 9/22/2016 WO A
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
2011076798 Jun 2011 WO
WO 2011076798 Jun 2011 WO
2014025994 Feb 2014 WO
2015017705 Feb 2015 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry
Vallat Machine Translation (Year: 2011).
Xu et al (in “Microbial pathogens and strategies for combating them: science, technology and education” (A. Mendez-Vilas, Ed), 2013) (Year: 2013).
AQUCAR® MSDS (online at http://msdssearch.dow.com/PublishedLiteratureDOWCOM/dh_030b/0901b8038030b48f.pdf?filepath=biocides/pdfs/noreg/253-01944.pdf, accessed Feb. 7, 2018) (Year: 2018).
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20180042222 A1 Feb 2018 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
62134798 Mar 2015 US