Polymeric Materials

摘要

Copolymers, desirably having a molecular weight of from 500 to 20000, of aminoesters or aminoamides of (meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylamides at a molar ratio of from 10:1 to 60:1, particularly from 12:1 to 50:1 and especially about 20:1, can act as gas hydrate inhibitors in water containing hydrocarbon gas streams. Desirably the aminoesters or aminoamides are N-alkyl-amino(esters or amides) in particular of the formula (I): H₂C-CR¹ C(O)XR²NR³R⁴ (I) where R¹, R², R³, R⁴ and X have defined meanings and the (meth)acrylamides are of the formula (II): H₂C-CR⁶C(O)NR⁷R⁸ (II) where R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ have defined meanings. Methods of treating gas water mixtures using the copolymers to inhibit gas hydrate formation are described.