Catalase decomposition of hydrogen peroxide in surfactants

Abstract

A process comprising the steps of continuously adding a catalase enzyme to a process stream, wherein the process stream comprises an amine oxide surfactant and hydrogen peroxide; and mixing the process stream and catalase enzyme.

1 . A process, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a process stream comprising an amine oxide surfactant and hydrogen peroxide;   b) continuously adding a catalase to the process stream; and   b) mixing the process stream and catalase.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of catalase based upon activity is greater than about 2000 U/mol of hydrogen peroxide to less than about 8000 U/mol of hydrogen peroxide. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the catalase is a liquid. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the process stream is greater than about 2000 ppm before addition of the catalase. 
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process stream comprises from about 25 wt % to about 40 wt % of the amine oxide surfactant and greater than about 2000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide before addition of the catalase. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the process stream is at a temperature between about 40° C. and about 65° C. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the process stream is at a temperature between about 45° C. and about 60° C. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing comprises at least one of flowing the process stream through an inline mixer, mixing in a stirred tank, or mixing by turbulence in piping. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 c) adjusting the temperature of the process stream to maintain a temperature between about 40° C. and about 65° C.   
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the process stream is reduced to less than about 500 ppm and greater than about 20 ppm. 
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the process stream is reduced to less than about 100 ppm and greater than about 20 ppm. 
   
   
       12 . A process comprising the steps of:
 a) reacting a long chain fatty tertiary amine with an excess of hydrogen peroxide to obtain a process stream comprising fatty tertiary amine oxide and unreacted hydrogen peroxide; and   b) contacting the process stream to a catalase to catalyze decomposition of the unreacted hydrogen peroxide, wherein the concentration of catalase is greater than 0 and less than about 1 U/gram of amine oxide.   
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the long chain fatty tertiary amine is selected from the group consisting of trioctylamine, tridecylamine, tridodecylamine, didodecylmethylamine, ditetradecylmethylamine, dihexadecylmethylamine, dioctadecylmethylamine, decyldimethylamine, dodecyldimethylamine, tetradecyldimethylamine, hexadecyldimethylamine, octadecyldimethylamine, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the contribution of the long chain ranges from 0 wt % to about 90 wt % of the total weight of long chain fatty tertiary amine. 
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the catalase decomposed the hydrogen peroxide to less than about 1000 ppm in the process stream. 
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the catalase decomposed the hydrogen peroxide to less than about 500 ppm in the process stream and greater than about 20 ppm. 
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the process stream is reduced to less than about 100 ppm and greater than about 20 ppm. 
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the decomposition is continued until the hydrogen peroxide is less than about 1 wt % of the original level of hydrogen peroxide. 
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the decomposition is continued until the hydrogen peroxide is less than about 0.1 wt % of the original level of hydrogen peroxide. 
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 12 , additionally comprising the step of:
 c) cooling the process stream to maintain a temperature between about 40° C. and about 65° C.   
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the contacting of the process stream is the continuous addition of the catalase to the process stream. 
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the contacting of the process stream comprises passing the process stream over a bed of immobilized catalase.