The reaction profile leading to acid generation based on bromate oxidation of ammonium salts was systematically investigated for a series of oxoanion-based organic acids with relevance for subterranean oil and gas applications. This study, an extension of our previously reported redox chemistry approach, revealed that the inherent structures of the counterions can influence the kinetics of acid formation. Experimental studies revealed that sodium and potassium bromate selectively oxidize a series of ammonium salts NH<sub>4</sub>X where X refers to methanesulfonate, triflate, tosylate, and trifluoroacetate to produce the conjugate acid. Meanwhile, no reaction was observed in the case of the lithium analog owing to the strong electrostatic interaction between the lithium-bromate ion pair. This led us to explore the potential of utilizing alkali-based metal salt addition as a facile strategy to accelerate or de-accelerate formation of the reaction products as this would allow more strategic acid placement that can be readily tailored to meet the application needs.

Synthesis of sulfonic and carboxylic acids through ammonium oxidation and selective salt addition to modulate the rate of acid formation

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.