| abstract |
An improved process for preparing water-soluble copper salts of carboxylic acids is described. More particularly, the improved process comprises the steps of (A) providing a mixture comprising (A-1) as a copper source, copper metal, a copper oxide or mixtures thereof, (A-2) at least one organic monocarboxylic acid containing about 10 to about 30 carbon atoms, (A-3) at least one alkanolamine compound characterized by the formula R1(R2)NH wherein R1 is a hydroxyalkyl group and R2 may be hydrogen or a hydroxyalkyl group, and (A-4) water, (B) treating the mixture with oxygen at a temperature up to about the reflux temperature of the mixture until the desired water-soluble copper salt is obtained, and (C) recovering the copper salt as an aqueous solution. The mixture (A) can be modified to include one or more dyes to produce colored solutions of the water-soluble metal salts. The water-soluble copper salts prepared in accordance with the method of the invention are useful in a variety of applications, particularly as a preservative for wood. The invention also relates to wood which has been treated with the water-soluble copper salts of the present invention. |