Abstract: A synergistic composition comprising a THP salt and a biopenetrant, in which the biopenetrant comprises a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a sulphonic acid, said polymer or copolymer being terminated by a mono- or diphosphonated unsaturated carboxylic acid group or having such monomers incorporated into the polymer backbone. This composition acts synergistically to enhance the biocidal efficacy of the THP salt against both planktonic (free-swimming) and sessile (attached) bacteria, and also acts synergistically to enhance the efficacy of the THP salt in the dissolution of iron sulphide scale.

Abstract: A synergistic composition comprising a THP salt and a biopenetrant, in which the biopenetrant comprises a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a sulphonic acid, said polymer or copolymer being terminated by a mono- or diphosphonated unsaturated carboxylic acid group or having such monomers incorporated into the polymer backbone. This composition acts synergistically to enhance the biocidal efficacy of the THP salt against both planktonic (free-swimming) and sessile (attached) bacteria, and also acts synergistically to enhance the efficacy of the THP salt in the dissolution of iron sulphide scale.

Abstract: A synergistic composition comprising a THP salt and a biopenetrant, in which the biopenetrant comprises a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a sulphonic acid, said polymer or copolymer being terminated by a mono- or diphosphonated unsaturated carboxylic acid group or having such monomers incorporated into the polymer backbone. This composition acts synergistically to enhance the biocidal efficacy of the THP salt against both planktonic (free-swimming) and sessile (attached) bacteria, and also acts synergistically to enhance the efficacy of the THP salt in the dissolution of iron sulphide scale.

Abstract: A synergistic composition comprising a THP salt and a biopenetrant, in which the biopenetrant comprises a polymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid or a copolymer of an unsaturated carboxylic acid with a sulphonic acid, said polymer or copolymer being terminated by a mono- or diphosphonated unsaturated carboxylic acid group or having such monomers incorporated into the polymer backbone. This composition acts synergistically to enhance the biocidal efficacy of the THP salt against both planktonic (free-swimming) and sessile (attached) bacteria, and also acts synergistically to enhance the efficacy of the THP salt in the dissolution of iron sulphide scale.

Abstract: The present invention provides a formulation for use in the treatment of corrosion and metal sulphide scale deposits in aqueous systems, said formulation comprising a tetrakis (hydroxyorgano) phosphonium salt (THP+ salt) and a primary, secondary or tertiary alcohol having an acetylenic bond in the carbon backbone. The invention also provides the use of such a formulation for treating corrosion of mild steel, copper or aluminium, and a method for treatment of an aqueous system containing or in contact with a metal sulphide scale while concomitantly inhibiting the corrosion of surfaces in contact with said aqueous system, which method comprises the addition to said aqueous system of a scale and corrosion inhibiting amount of such a formulation.

Abstract: The invention provides the use of a water-soluble biocide as an uncoupling agent at an effective amount to control bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The invention also provides a method for controlling the growth of bacterial biomass in an aqueous system. The method comprises adding to, or contacting with, the aqueous system an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide. In a preferred embodiment the method comprises contacting an effective amount of an uncoupling agent which is a water-soluble biocide directly with the bacterial biomass in an aqueous system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing the pathogen content of sewage sludge comprising (a) adding to the sludge an effective amount of a phosphorous-containing compound and (b) keeping the phosphorous-containing compound in contact with the sludge for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of pathogens present in the sludge by an amount equivalent to a logarithmic reduction of 2 or more.

Abstract: The present invention relates to use of compositions comprising: (a) a copolymer of an unsaturated phosphonic acid (or salt of such an acid) with an unsaturated sulphonic acid (or salt of such an acid) or an unsaturated carboxylic acid (or salt of such an acid); or (b) a terpolymer of an unsaturated phosphonic acid (or salt of such an acid) with an unsaturated sulphonic acid (or salt of such an acid) and an unsaturated carboxylic acid (or salt of such an acid). These compositions are used to control the formation of scale in water systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of reducing the pathogen content of sewage sludge comprising (a) adding to the sludge an effective amount of a phosphorous-containing compound and (b) keeping the phosphorous-containing compound in contact with the sludge for a sufficient time to reduce the amount of pathogens present in the sludge by an amount equivalent to a logarithmic reduction of 2 or more.

Abstract: Pulping liquors used in the bleaching of pulps by hydrogen peroxide, and containing catalase-producing bacteria and/or catalase enzyme are treated with tris (hydroxymethyl) phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt to kill the bacteria and destroy the enzyme.

Abstract: Treating a water system containing or in contact with a metal sulphide scale to inhibit, prevent, reduce, dissolve or disperse iron sulphide deposits. A solution of tris(hydroxyorgano)phosphines (THP) and tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salts (THP+ salts) and sufficient of a chelant (amino-carboxylates or amino-phosphonates) to provide a solution containing from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said THP or THP+ salt and from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said chelant, is contacted with the metal sulphide scale thereby to dissolve at least part of said scale in said solution.

Abstract: A mixture of THP and a moderator is used to tan leather. The moderator is selected from metaphosphates and polyhydroxy or polypyrolidyl compounds such as glycerol, carboxydrates PVA or PVP.

Abstract: A scale and corrosion inhibitor for use in the treatment of water comprises at least one oxyalkylene unit and at least one phosphonate unit (e.g. a unit derived prom a mono- or di-phosphonic acid such as VPA or VDPA). Inhibitors according to the present invention have been found to exhibit both scale-inhibiting and corrosion-inhibiting properties, especially in the treatment of cooling water and water used in oilfield applications.

Abstract: A synergistic biocide comprises a tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt and at least one non-surfactant biopenetrant, such as a polymer or copolymer having a plurality of quaternary ammonium groups, a hydrotrope or a syntan, together optionally with a surfactant.

Abstract: Treating a water system containing or in contact with a metal sulphide scale to inhibit, prevent, reduce, dissolve or disperse iron sulphide deposits. A solution of tris(hydroxyorgano)phosphines (THP) and tetrakis(hydroxyorgano)phosphonium salts (THP+ salts) and sufficient of a chelant (amino-carboxylates or amino-phosphonates) to provide a solution containing from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said THP or THP+ salt and from 0.1 to 50% by weight of said chelant, is contacted with the metal sulphide scale thereby to dissolve at least part of said scale in said solution.

Abstract: A scaled and corrosion inhibitor for the use in the treatment of water comprises at least one oxyalkylene unit and at least one phosphonate unit (e.g. a unit derived from a mono- or di-phosphonic acid such as VPA or VDPA). Inhibitors according to the present invention have been found to exhibit both scale-inhibiting and corrosion-inhibiting properties, especially in the treatment of cooling water and water used in oilfield applications.

Abstract: Pulping liquors used in the bleaching of pulps by hydrogen peroxide, and containing catalase-producing bacteria and/or catalase enzyme are treated with tris (hydroxymethyl) phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt to kill the bacteria and destroy the enzyme.

Abstract: Leather is tanned by cross-linking collagen with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a condensate of a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt with an amide or amine in a main tannage or retannage.

Abstract: Leather is tanned by cross-linking collagen with tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or a condensate of a tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salt with an amide or amine in a main tannage or retannage.

Abstract: A composition comprising tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine or phosphorus-containing salts or condensates of those salts with nitrogen-containing compounds coated or absorbed onto a solid or porous substrate is disclosed. The salts or condensates are based on tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium salts. The substrate has a melting point greater than 70° C. and is an optionally hydroxyl-substituted di- or polycarboxylic acid. The compositions may be used with water soluble film forming polymers to make sachets or bags containing sachets or bags of these phosphorous-containing compositions along with sachets or bags of compositions that are incompatible with these phosphorous-containing compositions.