Raymond M Glath

US Patent:

6372121, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

Oct 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/703108

Inventors:

Robert D. McClain - Sugar Land TX
Natu R. Patel - Houston TX
Raymond M. Glath - Richmond TX

Assignee:

Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P. - Sugar Land TX

International Classification:

C10G 916

US Classification:

208 48AA, 208 48 R, 585950

Abstract:

This invention is a method to inhibit the polymerization of carbonyl compounds in a basic wash unit operation in a hydrocarbon cracking process, wherein a compound selected from the group consisting of alpha-amino acids and esters thereof and amides thereof and salts thereof and mixtures thereof or Mercaptoacetic acid and alkyl esters thereof, is added either to a stream comprising a carbonyl compound or to the basic wash unit operation; wherein the compound is selected such that it remains water-soluble and base-soluble and does not flocculate in the stream or in the basic wash unit operation; and wherein the stream is contacted with the compound either before or at the same time as the stream enters the basic wash unit operation; or wherein the compound is added to the basic wash unit operation before or while the stream enters the basic wash unit operation.