Borate Micro Emulsion and Method for Making the Same

Abstract

The specification discloses a borate microemulsion product. In one embodiment, the borate microemulsion includes from about 24 to about 32 weight percent emulsified sodium pentaborate; and from about 24 to about 32 weight percent particulate boric acid suspended therein. The microemulsion has a density of about 9.5 to about 10.5 pounds per gallon at about room temperature. In certain embodiments, the microemulsion has a viscosity of about 1200 to about 1520 at a temperature of from about 66° F. to about 70° F. In certain other embodiments, microemulsion has a viscosity of about 1000 to about 3000 at a temperature of from about 70° F. to about 75° F.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A borate microemulsion comprising:
 from about 24 to about 32 weight percent emulsified sodium pentaborate; and from about 24 to about 32 weight percent particulate boric acid suspended therein,   wherein the microemulsion has a viscosity of about 1000 to about 3000 at a temperature of from about 70° F. to about 75° F. and a density of about 9.5 to about 10.5 pounds per gallon at about room temperature.   
     
     
         19 . The borate microemulsion of  claim 18 , wherein the microemulsion has a pH of from about 6.5 to about 7. 
     
     
         20 . The borate microemulsion of  claim 18 , wherein the microemulsion has a pH of from about 7.0 to about 8.0 after dilution in water at a rate of about 1 gallon microemulsion per 1000 gallons water. 
     
     
         21 . The borate microemulsion of  claim 18 , wherein the microemulsion has a pH of from about 7.2 to about 7.9 after dilution in water at a rate of about 1 gallon microemulsion per 1000 gallons water. 
     
     
         22 . The borate microemulsion of  claim 18 , wherein the microemulsion comprises about 10 weight percent elemental boron. 
     
     
         23 . The borate microemulsion of  claim 18 , wherein the microemulsion comprises an anti-settling agent selected from the group consisting of xanthan gum, polyacrylates, acrylic acid, agar, carboxymethyl cellulose, clay, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . A method for buffering the pH of a swimming pool, the method comprising:
 preparing a borate microemulsion concentrate comprising from about 24 to about 32 weight percent emulsified sodium pentaborate and from about 24 to about 32 weight percent particulate boric acid suspended therein; and   mixing the borate microemulsion concentrate with the water of a swimming pool in a ratio of from about 0.1 to about 1 gallons of concentrate per 1000 gallons of swimming pool water,   wherein the borate microemulsion concentrate has an initial pH of from about 6 to about 7.5 and after mixing with the swimming pool water provides a final pool water pH of from about 7.2 to about 7.9.   
     
     
         25 . The method for buffering the pH of a swimming pool of  claim 25 , wherein the swimming pool includes a pool skimmer device and the borate microemulsion concentrate is mixed with the swimming pool water using the pool skimmer device without clogging the pool skimmer device. 
     
     
         26 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for making a borate microemulsion, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing one part, by weight, alkali borate with from about 1 to about 20 parts, by weight, of a non-borate acid and from about 1 to about 20 parts, by weight, water to form a mixture; and   reacting the mixture at a temperature of from about 32° F. to about 212° F. to provide a reaction product which comprises from about 18 to about 38 weight percent emulsified sodium pentaborate and from about 18 to about 38 weight percent particulate boric acid suspended therein.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the alkali borate comprises a borate selected from the group consisting of tincal, kernite, anhydrous sodium tetraborate, sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the alkali borate comprises sodium tetraborate pentahydrate. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the non-borate acid comprises an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid, sulphur dioxide, sodium bisulphate, potassium bisulphate hydrochloric acid, chlorine, hypochlorous acid, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, phosphoric acid, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the non-borate acid comprises an organic acid selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, sulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         39 . A method for making a borate microemulsion, the method comprising the steps of:
 mixing one part, by weight, acidic borate with from about 0.05 to about 2 parts, by weight, of a non-borate base and from about 1 to about 3 parts, by weight, water to form a mixture; and   reacting the mixture at a temperature of from about 32° F. to about 212° F. to provide a reaction product which comprises from about 18 to about 38 weight percent emulsified sodium pentaborate and from about 18 to about 38 weight percent particulate boric acid suspended therein.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the acidic borate comprises a borate selected from the group consisting of orthoboric acid, metaboric acid, boric oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the acidic borate comprises s orthoboric acid. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the non-borate base comprises a base selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium oxide, potassium oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, lithium oxide, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, lithium carbonate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the non-borate base comprises sodium hydroxide.