Low-Dose Hydrate Formation Inhibitors Derived from Copolymers of Maleic Anhydride and Isopropylacrylamide Amidated by Dibutylaminopropylamine.

A study was carried out on the effect of copolymers derived from maleic anhydride and isopropylacrylamide on the formation of the methane-propane hydrate. The polymerization was carried out in petroleum ether and dimethylformamide. The maleic anhydride ring was then opened by dibutylaminopropylamine. Some of the resultant polymers at concentration 0.5 mass % demonstrated a reduction in the temperature for the onset hydrate formation and in the conversion of gas into hydrate resembling commercial kinetic hydrate formation inhibitors Luvicap EG and PNIPAM. The best supercooling results were found for the sample with an enhanced content of isopropylacrylamide fragments. The least conversion of gas to hydrate was observed for the system containing maleic anhydride homopolymer modified with dibutylaminopropylamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]