US4530766A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of inhibiting scaling in aqueous systems with low molecular weight copolymers
Assignee: Rohm and Haas Co
•
Filing: 1984-09-24
•
Granted: 1985-07-23
•
Expires: 2004-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for inhibiting scale formation in aqueous systems using water-soluble, low molecular weight copolymers of unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids is provided. Copolymers formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2000 to about 5000, are preferred for inhibiting the formation of common hardness ion salt scale such as calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and barium sulfate. The copolymers are hydrolytically stable and can be used effectively in high temperature applications. The copolymers are also effective dispersants for suspended inorganic particulate materials, such as clay, in aqueous systems.
Inventors
- 👤 William M. Hann
- 👤 John Natoli
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:32
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08F; C08F220/00; C08F220/02; C08F220/04; C08F220/06; C02; C02F; C02F5/00; C02F5/08; C02F5/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for controlling hardness ion salt scale formation, where said anions of said salt include phosphate, in an aqueous system comprising adding a scale-inhibiting amount of a low molecular weight, water-soluble copolymer to said system to inhibit the precipitation of said hardness ion salts and to disperse precipitated hardness ion salts in said system, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for controlling hardness ion salt scale formation, where said anions of said salt include phosphate, in an aqueous system comprising adding a scale-inhibiting amount of a low molecular weight, water-soluble copolymer to said system to inhibit the precipitation of said hardness ion salts and to disperse precipitated hardness ion salts in said system, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 where said copolymer comprises about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid and said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 3000 to about 4000.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 where said aqueous system is a cooling tower.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 where said aqueous system is a boiler.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
An improved method for controlling the precipitation and formation of a variety of hardness ion salt scale, wherein said salts include barium sulfate, in aqueous systems comprising adding a scale-inhibiting amount of an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer to said aqueous systems where the improvement comprises adding an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer, formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid and having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000 to an aqueous system containing said hardness ion salts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
An improved method for controlling the precipitation and formation of a variety of hardness ion salt scale, wherein said salts include barium sulfate, in aqueous systems comprising adding a scale-inhibiting amount of an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer to said aqueous systems where the improvement comprises adding an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer, formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid and having a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000 to an aqueous system containing said hardness ion salts.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for dispersing suspended inorganic particulate materials selected from the group consisting of mud, slit, clay and common hardness ion salts in water comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to sdid system, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for dispersing suspended inorganic particulate materials selected from the group consisting of mud, slit, clay and common hardness ion salts in water comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to sdid system, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 30 to about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 70 to about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 5000.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 6 where said copolymer is formed from about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for dispersing an aqueous slurry containing a high solids concentration of calcium carbonate comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to said slurry, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
66 words
A method for dispersing an aqueous slurry containing a high solids concentration of calcium carbonate comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to said slurry, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 8 where said concentration of calcium carbonate in said slurry is at least 75 weight percent.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for dispersing an aqueous slurry containing a high solids concentration of kaolin comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to said slurry, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for dispersing an aqueous slurry containing a high solids concentration of kaolin comprising adding a dispersing amount of a low molecular weight copolymer to said slurry, said copolymer being an acrylic acid-methacrylic acid copolymer formed from about 70 weight percent acrylic acid and from about 30 weight percent methacrylic acid, and where said copolymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 3500.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 where said concentration of kaolin in said slurry is at least 70 weight percent.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3578589A
Cited
US3699048A
Cited
US3791978A
Cited
GB1414964A
Cited
US3890228A
Cited
US4008164A
Cited
SU604866A1
Cited
JPS532393A
Cited
JPS5321091A
Cited
US4186027A
Cited
US4301266A
Cited
US4314004A
Cited
US4326980A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-07-22 | 1989-01-21 | 1989-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-07-22 | 1993-01-21 | 1993-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-07-22 | 1997-01-21 | 1997-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |