Styrene copolymers combined with metallic species in deposition inhibition

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions useful for inhibiting the formation of gummy residues on equipment in processing operations which liberate tiny adhesive particles having a tendency to agglomerate into larger particles and/or films. The compositions comprise a complex or adduct formed from styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer and calcium ions. The compositions according to the invention may be added to a processing system at any point, either upstream or downstream from the location at which residues are formed. Compositions according to the invention may be applied by spray techniques.

I claim:  
     
         1 ) An aqueous composition of matter which comprises: 
 a) a copolymer component comprising a water soluble anionic form of styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer in which the copolymer has a styrene content in the range of 10.0% to 45.0% by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween, and wherein said copolymer component has a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 30,000 including every molecular weight therebetween; and    b) a metal component comprising an aqueous solution containing at least one multivalent cation selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, nickel, copper, tin, cobalt, iron, zinc, or mixtures thereof,    wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:4 to 1:500 on a weight basis.    
     
     
         2 ) A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:10 to 1:400 on a weight basis.  
     
     
         3 ) A composition according to  claim 1  wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:15 to 1:300 on a weight basis.  
     
     
         4 ) A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said copolymer component has a styrene content in the range of 15.0% to 38.0% by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid polymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.  
     
     
         5 ) A composition according to  claim 1  wherein said copolymer component has a molecular weight in the range of 5,000 to 25,000 including every molecular weight therebetween.  
     
     
         6 ) An aqueous composition of matter which comprises: 
 a) a copolymer component comprising a water soluble anionic form of styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer in which the copolymer has a molecular weight in the range of 2,000 to 30,000 including every molecular weight therebetween; and    b) a metal component comprising an aqueous solution containing at least one multivalent cation selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, nickel, copper, tin, cobalt, iron, zinc or mixtures thereof,    wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:4 to 1:500 on a weight basis.    
     
     
         7 ) A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:10 to 1:400 on a weight basis.  
     
     
         8 ) A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:15 to 1:300 on a weight basis.  
     
     
         9 ) A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is in the range of 5,000 to 24,000, including every molecular weight therebetween.  
     
     
         10 ) A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is in the range of 9,000 to 18,000, including every molecular weight therebetween.  
     
     
         11 ) A composition according to  claim 6  wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is in the range of 11,000 to 15,000, including every molecular weight therebetween.  
     
     
         12 ) An aqueous composition of matter which comprises: 
 a) a copolymer component comprising a water soluble form anionic of styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer in which the copolymer has a styrene content in the range of 10.0% to 45.0% by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween; and    b) a metal component comprising an aqueous solution containing at least one multivalent cation selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, nickel, copper, tin, cobalt, iron, zinc, or mixtures thereof,    wherein the ratio of the copolymer component to the metal component is in the range of between 1:4 to 1:500 on a weight basis.    
     
     
         13 ) A composition according to  claim 12  in which the styrene content of the copolymer is in the range of between about 15.0% and 35.0%, by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.  
     
     
         14 ) A composition according to  claim 12  in which the styrene content of the copolymer is in the range of between about 18.0% and 30.0%, by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.  
     
     
         15 ) A composition according to  claim 12  in which the styrene content of the copolymer is in the range of between about 21.0% and 27.0%, by weight based upon the total weight of the styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer, including every hundredth percentage therebetween.  
     
     
         16 ) A process for preventing deposition of pitch, resin, stickies, lignin, and other residues on processing equipment in processes in that such species are present which comprises the steps of: 
 a) providing an aqueous composition of matter which comprises: 
 i) a copolymer component comprising a water soluble anionic form of styrene/methacrylic acid copolymer; and  
 ii) a metal component comprising an aqueous solution containing at least one multivalent cation selected from the group consisting of: calcium, magnesium, strontium, barium, nickel, copper, tin, cobalt, iron, zinc, or mixtures thereof; and  
   b) introducing an effective deposition inhibiting amount of said aqueous composition into a process stream in which pitch, resin, lignin, and other residues are liberated,    wherein the concentration of the copolymer component of said aqueous composition in said process stream is in the range of between 0.5 parts per million to 500 parts per million by weight based upon the weight of said process stream.    
     
     
         17 ) A process according to  claim 16  wherein the concentration of the copolymer component of said aqueous composition in said process stream is in the range of between 2.0 parts per million to 150 parts per million by weight based upon the weight of the process stream  
     
     
         18 ) A process as in  claim 16  wherein the metal component is present in said process stream in any amount between 4 times the amount of the copolymer component and 500 times the amount of the copolymer component.  
     
     
         19 ) A process as in  claim 17  wherein the metal component is present in said process stream in any amount between 4 times the amount of the copolymer component and 500 times the amount of the copolymer component.  
     
     
         20 ) A process according to  claim 16  wherein said multivalent cation is selected from the group consisting of: calcium and magnesium; and wherein the molecular weight of the copolymer is in the range of 2,000 to 30,000 including every molecular weight therebetween