Protic ionic liquids as hydrate inhibitors

Abstract

Hydrates are solid solutions formed by water molecules organized in cages which enclose gas molecules. Although seen as solutions in an array of fields, these structures are a serious problem in the petroleum industry. Their formation in tubes, pipes and valves can cause flow obstruction and, ultimately, line rupture. Therefore, much has been invested by petroleum industries to avoid hydrate formation. One way to do so, is to inject high dosage thermodynamic inhibitors to shift the favorable hydrate formation conditions further form operational conditions. Additionally, low dosage hydrates inhibitors can be injected to delay hydrates formation or stop aggregation, whenever hydrates formation can not be avoided. However, current commercial ihnibitors still present disadvantages, such as high volatility, high regeneration costs and high material costs. Because of this, there is interest in developing new inhibitors, and the literature shows ionic liquids (ILs) as prospective ones. However, few authors have investigated protic ionic liquids (PILs) as inhibitors, despite their low cost and simple synthesis. The aim of the FAPESP project related to this internship proposal is to identify PILs able to act as hydrates inhibitors through the analysis of the behavior of these PILs in aqueous media. Nine possible inhibitors have been selected for this study, however an important step of this research it to verify the effect of these PILs in actual hydrate formation. This can be achieved through a stay in the Colorado School of Mines in the Phases to Flow Laboratory, which has the infrastructure to allow the much needed tests to complete this research. (AU)