Quarternary ammonium halides for treating halogen contamination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11679293-B2
Application number	US-202017614425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2020
Priority date	May 28, 2019
Publication date	Jun 20, 2023
Grant date	Jun 20, 2023

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for treating emergency spill or leak of halogen which is bromine or chlorine, comprising contacting an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium halide with the halogen.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for treating emergency spill or leak of halogen which is bromine or chlorine, comprising contacting an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium halide with the halogen,
wherein the quaternary ammonium halide is selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and cyclic quaternary ammonium bromides or chlorides,
wherein the aliphatic quaternary ammonium bromide is of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + Br − , wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are independently selected from linear or branched C 1 -C 5 alkyl,
wherein the R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + Br − is symmetrical quaternary ammonium bromide, such that R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4 are the same,
wherein the quaternary ammonium bromide is tetra ethyl ammonium bromide, tetra propyl ammonium bromide, or tetra butyl ammonium bromide, and
wherein the cyclic quaternary ammonium bromide or chloride is selected from the group consisting of 2-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium bromides, 2-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium chlorides, 3-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium bromides and 3-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium chlorides wherein the alkyl at position 1 of the ring is linear or branched C 1 -C 5 group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 2-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium bromide is 2-methyl-1-ethyl pyridinium bromide (2-MEPy) and the 3-methyl-1-alkyl-pyridinium bromide is 3-methyl-1-n-butyl pyridinium bromide (3-MBPy).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the halogen is bromine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bromine is liquid bromine.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the aqueous solution of the quaternary ammonium halide comprises a foaming agent, to form a foam on top of the liquid bromine.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the foaming agent is an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) agent.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the quaternary ammonium halide is tetra ethyl ammonium bromide and the foaming agent is an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) agent.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bromine is bromine gas.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising collecting halogen neutralization product as complexed bromine in a form of liquid or solid mass.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the halogen is chlorine gas, and wherein the aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium bromide further comprises one or more alkali or alkaline earth metal bromides.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises not less than 40 wt. % of quaternary ammonium bromide and not less than 40 wt. % alkali or alkaline earth metal bromide.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises:
a symmetrical quaternary ammonium bromide of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 R 4 N + Br − wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 are the same C1-C5 alkyl groups; and sodium bromide or calcium bromide.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises tetra ethyl ammonium bromide and calcium bromide.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises tetra ethyl ammonium bromide, tetra propyl ammonium bromide or tetra butyl ammonium bromide.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises tetra ethyl ammonium bromide.

16. Halogen-neutralizing aqueous solution comprising:
from 30 to 60 wt. % tetra alkyl ammonium bromide, wherein the alkyl is linear or branched C 1 -C 5 alkyl; and
from 30 to 55 wt. % sodium bromide or from 30 to 60 wt. % calcium bromide.

17. The halogen-neutralizing aqueous solution of claim 16 , comprising:
from 40 to 60 wt. % tetra alkyl ammonium bromide; and
from 40 to 55 wt. % sodium bromide or from 40 to 60 wt. % calcium bromide.

18. The halogen-neutralizing aqueous solution of claim 17 , comprising:
from 40 to 60 wt. % tetra ethyl ammonium bromide; and
from 40 to 60 wt. % calcium bromide.

19. The halogen-neutralizing aqueous solution of claim 16 , wherein the tetra alkyl ammonium bromide is tetra ethyl ammonium bromide.

20. Use of an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium halide with concentration of not less than 40 wt. % as halogen neutralization agent in case of emergency leak of the halogen, wherein the halide is bromide, and wherein the aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium bromide further comprises one or more alkali or alkaline earth metal bromides.

21. The use of claim 20 , wherein the quaternary ammonium halide is tetra ethyl ammonium bromide, and wherein the alkaline earth metal bromide is calcium bromide.

22. Chlorine neutralization emergency system comprising an aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium halide with concentration of not less than 40 wt. % in an instantly sprayable or pourable form, wherein the halide is bromide, wherein the aqueous solution of quaternary ammonium bromide further comprises one or more alkali or alkaline earth metal bromides.

23. The chlorine neutralization emergency system of claim 22 , wherein the quaternary ammonium halide is tetra ethyl ammonium bromide, and wherein the alkaline earth metal bromide is calcium bromide.

Assignees

• Bromine Compounds Ltd

Inventors

• Kompaniets Igor
• Press Frimet Or
• Cohen Ofer
• Elazari Ran

Classifications

• A62D3/33 Primary

  by chemical fixing the harmful substance, e.g. by chelation or complexation · CPC title

• B01D2257/2022

  Bromine · CPC title

• A62D3/37

  by reduction, e.g. hydrogenation · CPC title

• B01D2251/206

  Ammonium compounds · CPC title

• B01D2251/404

  of calcium · CPC title