Functionalized polymers containing polyamine succinimide for antifouling in hydrocarbon refining processes

Abstract

A multipurpose chemical additives (MPC) is disclosed to mitigate fouling in hydrocarbon refinery processes, such as in a heat exchanger. A method for reducing fouling of a hydrocarbon is also disclosed that includes (i) providing a crude hydrocarbon for a refining process; and (ii) adding an additive to the crude hydrocarbon.

1 .- 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for preparing a compound for treating an emulsion of crude hydrocarbon and/or reducing fouling of a crude hydrocarbon in a hydrocarbon refining process, comprising:
 (a) reacting a polymer base unit R 11 , which is a branched or straight-chained C 10 -C 800  alkyl or alkenyl group having a vinyl terminal group, with maleic anhydride to obtain a polymer represented by Formula I below:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 21  is a branched or straight-chained C 10 -C 800  alkyl or alkenyl group;
 (b) reacting the polymer obtained in (a) with a polyamine represented by 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 12  is hydrogen or a C 1 -C 4  branched or straight chained alkyl optionally substituted with one or more amine groups, R 13  is a C 1 -C 4  branched or straight chained alkylene group, and x is an integer between 1 and 10, and further wherein the —N(R 12 )-R 13 — unit is optionally interrupted in one or more places by a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic cycloalkyl group, and wherein when the x-th —N(R 12 )-R 13 — unit along with the terminal nitrogen atom forms a heterocyclic cycloalkyl group, the terminal —NH 2  is replaced by a —NH— group for valency. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the molar ratio of R 11 :polyamine is between about 5:1 and about 1:1. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein at least 50% of the terminal vinyl groups of R 11  are an allylic vinyl group. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polyamine comprises linear, branched or cyclic isomers of an oligomer of ethyleneamine, or mixtures thereof, wherein each two neighboring nitrogens in the oligomer of ethyleneamine are bridged by one or two ethyleneamine groups. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the polyamine is selected from ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, hexaethyleneheptamine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the polyamine comprises a heavy polyamine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (a) comprises reacting the polymer base unit R 11  with maleic anhydride at a ratio R 11 :maleic anhydride of between about 1:1 to about 1:5. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein (a) comprises reacting the polymer base unit R 11  with maleic anhydride without an additional initiator providing a radical species. 
     
     
         22 .- 57 . (canceled)