Overbased metal carboxylate precursor and process for making

Abstract

Shelf stable, flowable liquids of overbased alkaline earth metal salts are prepared by reacting an alkaline earth metal base and a carboxylic acid in the presence of a hydrocarbon liquid, a polyol and an alcohol. The resulting overbased alkaline earth metal salts has an alkaline earth metal content of at least about 14.5% and a non-volatile matter content of at least about 95%.

1 . A shelf stable, flowable liquid of an overbased alkaline earth metal salt of a fatty acid, the liquid comprising:
 at least one hydrocarbon liquid;   a polyol;   an alcohol, wherein the alcohol has at least 8 carbon atoms; and   an overbased alkaline earth metal salt of a fatty acid, wherein the alkaline earth metal salt has an alkaline earth metal content of at least about 14.5% and a non-volatile matter content of at least about 95%.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid of  claim 1 , wherein the fatty acid is a C 12 -C 22  fatty acid. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid of  claim 2 , wherein the fatty acid is oleic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid of  claim 1 , wherein an alkaline earth metal of the overbased alkaline earth metal salt is selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, magnesium and strontium. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid of  claim 1 , wherein the overbased alkaline earth metal salt is calcium oleate. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is an aliphatic alcohol of at least 14 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid of  claim 1 , wherein the polyol is a glycol or a glycol ether selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A method for preparing a shelf stable, flowable liquid of an overbased alkaline earth metal salt of a fatty acid, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) preparing a precursor mixture comprising a carboxylic acid, wherein the carboxylic acid is a fatty acid; at least one hydrocarbon liquid; a polyol; and an alcohol, wherein the alcohol has at least 8 carbon atoms;   (b) neutralizing the carboxylic acid with an initial amount of alkaline earth metal base to form an alkaline earth metal carboxylate precursor mixture;   (c) heating the alkaline earth metal carboxylate precursor mixture;   (d) adding an additional amount of an alkaline earth metal base to the alkaline earth metal carboxylate precursor mixture;   (e) carbonating the precursor mixture to neutrality;   (f) filtering the precursor mixture; and   (g) distilling the precursor mixture until an alkaline earth metal content of at least about 14.5% and a non-volatile matter content of at least about 95% is achieved.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the fatty acid is a C 12 -C 22  fatty acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the fatty acid is oleic acid. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the alkaline earth metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, magnesium and strontium. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the alkaline earth metal carboxylate precursor mixture includes calcium oleate and calcium carbonate. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the alcohol is an aliphatic alcohol of at least 12 carbon atoms. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the polyol is a glycol or a glycol ether selected from the group consisting of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol, hexylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the precursor mixture is distilled with vacuum stripping.