Chromium salt compositions and a process for their production

Claim 2

A stable solution containing at least 7.5% by weight of dissolved chromium that comprises an inert, water-insoluble organic solvent and a mixture of chromium salts that contains 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching at one or more of the alpha and beta positions of the chain.

Claim 3

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 that contains at least 8.0% by weight of dissolved chromium.

Claim 4

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium salts contains 40 to 60 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain acid and 40 to 60 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain acid.

Claim 5

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium salts contains about 50 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain acid and 50 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain acid.

Claim 6

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium 2-ethylhexanoate.

Claim 7

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium 2-ethyl-4-methylpentanoate.

Claim 8

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium 2-propylheptanoate.

Claim 9

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoate.

Claim 10

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium 2-ethyl-3-propylacrylate.

Claim 11

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mixture of chromium (III) salts contains chromium n-hexanoate.

Claim 12

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is an inert, water-insoluble organic solvent selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alkanols having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, heterocyclic compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 13

A stable solution as set forth in claim 1 that comprises a mixture of about 50 mole percent of chromium (III) n-hexanoate and about 50 mole percent of chromium (III) 2-ethylhexanoate dissolved in a hydrocarbon solvent.

Claim 14

A chromium salt composition that comprises 20 to 80 mole percent of a chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of a chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching in one or more of the alpha and beta positions of the chain.

Claim 15

A chromium salt composition that comprises 20 to 80 mole percent of a chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of a chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching in one or more of the alpha and beta positions of the chain.

Claim 16

A chromium salt compositon as set forth in claim 13 that comprises 40 to 60 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a straight-chain monocarboxylic acid and 40 to 60 mole percent of said chromium (III) salt of a branched-chain monocarboxylic acid.

Claim 17

A chromium salt composition as set forth in claim 13 that comprises about 50 mole percent of chromium (III) n-hexanoate and about 50 mole percent of chromium (III) 2-ethylhexanoate.

Claim 18

The process for the production of chromium salt compositions that contain at least 7.5% by weight of dissolved chromium that comprises the steps of a. contacting a mixture of water-soluble salts of aliphatic acids with a water-soluble chromic salt of an inorganic acid selected from the group consisting of chromic chloride, chromic bromide, chromic nitrate, and chromic sulfate in aqueous solution in the presence of an inert, water-insoluble organic solvent, said mixtures of water-soluble acid salts containing 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one water-soluble salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one water-soluble salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching at one or more of the alpha and beta positions of its chain; and b. recovering a chromium salt composition that is a solution of the chromium (III) salts of said aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in the organic solvent.

Claim 19

The process for the production of chromium salt compositions that contain at least 7.5% by weight of dissolved chromium that comprises the steps of a. contacting a mixture of water-soluble salts of aliphatic acids with a water-soluble chromic salt of an inorganic acid selected from the group consisting of chromic chloride, chromic bromide, chromic nitrate, and chromic sulfate in aqueous solution in the presence of an inert, water-insoluble organic solvent, said mixtures of water-soluble acid salts containing 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one water-soluble salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one water-soluble salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching at one or more of the alpha and beta positions of its chain; and b. recovering a chromium salt composition that is a solution of the chromium (III) salts of said aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in the organic solvent.

Claim 20

The process for the production of chromium salt compositions that contain at least 7.5% by weight of dissolved chromium that comprises the steps of a. contacting a mixture of ammonium salts of aliphatic acids with chromic chloride hexahydrate in aqueous solution in the presence of an inert water-insoluble organic solvent, said mixture of ammonium salts containing 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching at one or more of the alpha and beta positions of its chain; and b. recovering a chromium salt composition that is a solution of the chromium (III) salts of said aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in the organic solvent.

Claim 21

The process for the production of chromium salt compositions that contain at least 7.5% by weight of dissolved chromium that comprises the steps of a. contacting a mixture of ammonium salts of aliphatic acids with chromic chloride hexahydrate in aqueous solution in the presence of an inert water-insoluble organic solvent, said mixture of ammonium salts containing 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one salt of a straight-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms and 20 to 80 mole percent of at least one salt of a branched-chain aliphatic monocarboxylic acid having 5 to 10 carbon atoms, said branched-chain acid having branching at one or more of the alpha and beta positions of its chain; and b. recovering a chromium salt composition that is a solution of the chromium (III) salts of said aliphatic monocarboxylic acids in the organic solvent.

Claim 22

The process of claim 17 wherein the mixture of ammonium salts contains 40 to 60 mole percent of the salt of the straight-chain acid and 40 to 60 percent of the salt of the branched-chain acid.

Claim 23

The process of claim 17 wherein the mixture of ammonium salts contains about 50 mole percent of the salt of the straight-chain acid and about 50 mole percent of the salt of the branched-chain acid.

Claim 24

The process of claim 17 wherein the straight-chain acid is n-hexanoic acid.

Claim 25

The process of claim 17 wherein the branched-chain acid is 2-ethylhexanoic acid.

Claim 26

The process of claim 17 wherein the branched-chain acid is 2-ethyl-4-methylpentanoic acid.

Claim 27

The process of claim 17 wherein the branched-chain acid is 2-propylheptanoic acid.

Claim 28

The process of claim 17 wherein the branched-chain acid is 3,5,5-trimethylhexanoic acid.

Claim 29

The process of claim 17 wherein the branched-chain acid is 2-ethyl-3-propylacrylic acid.

Claim 30

The process of claim 17 wherein the mixture of ammonium salts is contacted with chromic chloride hexahydrate at a temperature in the range of 50° to 55°C.

Claim 31

The process of claim 17 wherein the organic solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, chlorinated hydrocarbons, alkanols having 4 to 10 carbon atoms, heterocyclic compounds, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 32

The process of claim 27 wherein the organic solvent is a hydrocarbon.

Claim 33

The process of claim 28 wherein the organic solvent is mineral seal oil.

Claim 34

The process of claim 28 wherein the organic solvent is mineral spirits.

Claim 35

The process of claim 28 wherein the organic solvent is kerosene.

Claim 36

The process of claim 17 wherein a mixture of chromium salts is recovered from said solution.