Chlorine dioxide precursor and methods of using same

Abstract

According to one aspect of the invention, a method of converting an oxy halide salt into a halide dioxide in a reaction zone under certain conditions is provided. More specifically, the method includes generating chlorine dioxide from a stable composition comprising an oxy halide salt by introducing said composition to a reducing agent and minimum temperature within the reaction zone. According to another aspect of the invention, a composition for a stable chlorine dioxide precursor comprising an oxy halide salt is provided

1 . A composition comprising an oxy halide salt and an acid that is stable and does not convert to a halide oxide provided an absence of a reducing agent in the composition and a temperature below about 90° F., and more preferably below about 100° F. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oxy halide salt contains chlorine in the plus five valence state. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the anion component of the oxy halide salt is chlorate. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the acid comprises a weak acid. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the weak acid comprises citric, lactic, formic, oxalic, ethanoic, acetic, or propanoic acid, or a mixture of one or more of said weak acids. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the acid comprises a strong acid in the range of about 0.1% to 2%, more preferably 0.2% to 0.5%. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 6 , wherein the strong acid comprises hydrochloric or hydrofluoric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a chelating, a wetting agent or a mixture thereof 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the compound can be converted into chlorine dioxide in the presence of a reducing agent when heated to a temperature greater than about 110° F. 
     
     
         10 . A stable solution, comprising an aqueous solution of an alkaline metal oxy halide salt and a weak acid, wherein the concentration of the alkaline metal oxy halide salt is between about 5% and 40% and the concentration of the weak acid is between about 5% and 20%, and wherein the stable solution does not react to form a halide dioxide until said solution reaches a minimum temperature of about 110° F., and is exposed to one or more reduced compounds. 
     
     
         11 . The stable solution of  claim 10 , wherein the halide dioxide comprises chlorine dioxide. 
     
     
         12 . The stable solution of  claim 10 , wherein the alkaline metal oxy halide salt comprises sodium chlorate. 
     
     
         13 . The stable solution of  claim 10 , wherein the reduced compound comprises a sulfide, a reduced sulfur compound, a reduced metal, or a mixture of one or more of said compounds. 
     
     
         14 . The stable solution of  claim 13 , wherein the reduced metal comprises Fe(II). 
     
     
         15 . The stable solution of  claim 10 , wherein the minimum temperature and reduced compounds are introduced when the stable solution enters or becomes in contact with a geological material comprising one or solid, liquid, or gaseous hydrocarbons, a hydrocarbon deposit, a petroleum deposit, a hydrocarbon or petroleum product formation, or a hydrocarbon or petroleum processing product or equipment. 
     
     
         16 . A method of generating chlorine dioxide, comprising introducing a stable composition comprising sodium chlorate into a reaction zone comprising one or more reduced compounds under conditions in which all or a part of the sodium chlorate is converted into chlorine dioxide, thereby generating chlorine dioxide, wherein said conditions comprise a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stable solution further comprises an acid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the acid comprises a weak acid selected from the group comprising citric, lactic, formic, oxalic, ethanoic, acetic, propanoic acid, and a mixture of one or more of said weak acids. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising heating the solution to a minimum temperature of about 110° F. to 115° F., or wherein the reaction zone has a minimum temperature of about 110° F. to 115° F. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the reaction zone comprises geological material comprising one or solid, liquid, or gaseous hydrocarbons, a hydrocarbon deposit, a petroleum deposit, a hydrocarbon or petroleum product formation, or a hydrocarbon or petroleum processing product or equipment. 
     
     
         21 - 38 . (canceled)