Aqueous solution and method for use thereof

Abstract

An aqueous solution includes HCl present in an amount exceeding 37% by weight. The solution further includes a fixing agent that is urea and/or a urea derivative. The fixing agent is present in the solution in a molar ratio of between 0.25 and 2.0 of fixing agent to HCl, inclusive.

1 . An aqueous solution, comprising:
 HCl in an amount exceeding 37% by weight;   an HCl fixing agent (FA) present in a molar ratio of FA:HCl between 0.25 and 2.0 inclusive, wherein the FA comprises at least one of urea and a urea derivative; and   water present in an amount sufficient to dissolve the HCl and the FA.   
     
     
         2 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the FA comprises urea, and wherein the HCl is further present in an amount up to 45.7% by weight inclusive. 
     
     
         3 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the FA comprises at least one of 1,3-dimethyl urea and ethylene urea, and wherein the HCl is further present in an amount up to 41.1% by weight inclusive. 
     
     
         4 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the FA further comprises at least one molecular species, and wherein each of the at least one molecular species comprises a molecule having a molecular weight below 100 g/mol. 
     
     
         5 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a density greater than 1.2 g/mL. 
     
     
         6 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution is present at a substantially atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , further comprising HF in an amount of at least 0.25%. 
     
     
         8 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , further comprising a second FA, wherein the second FA comprises an amount of high surface area particles. 
     
     
         9 . The aqueous solution of  claim 8 , wherein the amount of high surface area particles comprises an amount of a metal-organic framework material. 
     
     
         10 . The aqueous solution of  claim 1 , further comprising the water present in an amount between 0.3 and 1.3 times the mass of the FA, inclusive. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 combining an amount of water and an HCl fixing agent (FA), wherein the amount of water is present in an amount between 0.3 and 1.3 times the mass of the FA, inclusive, and wherein the FA comprises at least one of urea and a urea derivative;   dissolving an amount of HCl gas into the combined amount of water and FA, wherein the amount of HCl gas comprises a molar ratio of HCl:FA of between 4.0 and 0.5, inclusive, and wherein the amount of HCl gas comprises greater than 37% by weight of a total solution.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising dissolving at least a portion of the FA in the amount of water during the dissolving the amount of HCl into the combined amount of water and FA. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising adding a second FA, the second FA comprising an amount of high surface area particles. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing the second FA after the dissolving the HCl. 
     
     
         15 . A method for handling an HCl solution with deactivated fumes, the method comprising:
 providing an aqueous solution comprising HCl in an amount exceeding 37% by weight; and   suppressing gaseous HCl fumes from the aqueous solution, the suppressing comprising dissolving an amount of an HCl fixing agent (FA) into the aqueous solution, wherein the amount of the FA comprises a molar ratio of FA:HCl between 0.25 and 2.0 inclusive, and wherein the FA comprises at least one of urea and a urea derivative.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising transporting the HCl solution over at least one of a public road and a railway. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising residing the HCl solution in an atmospheric pressure vessel for at least one hour, and wherein the residing is performed without adding an additional acid retarder to the HCl solution. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising positioning the HCl solution in an atmospheric pressure vessel at a location having an ambient temperature lower than −28° C., and wherein the residing is performed for a time period comprising at least one of a cold soak time period and a time period until a temperature of at least a portion of the HCl solution is below −28° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising transporting the HCl solution to a location, and diluting the HCl solution to a desired HCl concentration after the transporting. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 positioning an operator into a vapor space communication with the HCl solution; and   performing a fluid utility operation after the positioning, the fluid utility operation comprising at least one operation selected from the operations consisting of:
 checking a fluid level of the HCl solution; 
 performing a fluid test on the HCl solution; 
 adding an amount of an additive to the HCl solution; 
 closing a lid on an atmospheric pressure vessel holding the HCl solution; 
 transferring at least a portion of the HCl solution out of an atmospheric pressure vessel holding the HCl solution; 
 performing a visual check on the HCl solution; 
 operationally coupling a fluid transfer device to one of the HCl solution and an atmospheric pressure vessel holding the HCl solution; and 
 agitating the HCl solution.