| abstract |
A method has been discovered for removing organics, such as water soluble organics (WSO), from fluids containing water, such as oil process water, by contacting the fluid with an effective amount of an organic ammonium salt. No added acid is necessary, although in some embodiments, weak acids such as glycolic acid, can be used to give synergistic improvement in organic removal. Suitable organic ammonium salts have the formula: R1R2R3N+H X-where R1 is a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or an aryl group, or saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or an aryl group substituted with a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, P and halogen; R2, and R3 are independently H or a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or an aryl group, or saturated or unsaturated alkyl group or an aryl group substituted with a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, S, P and halogen; and X is a halogen atom or an anion of a protic acid. |