What Is BISQUAT? Prolonium Chloride CAS 55636-09-4

In this article, BISQUAT refers specifically to Prolonium Chloride, CAS 55636-09-4, chemically identified as (2-hydroxytrimethylene)bis(trimethylammonium) dichloride. It is a cationic bis-quaternary ammonium compound containing two permanently charged ammonium centers and is associated with clay-control and formation-protection applications in oilfield fluids.

The term “bisquat” can also be used more broadly for the chemical class of bis-quaternary ammonium compounds. For that reason, industrial buyers should not rely on the word BISQUAT alone when qualifying a product. The CAS number, chemical name, active content, commercial form, and batch documentation should all be confirmed.

Prolonium Chloride is one specific example within the broader family of bis-quaternary ammonium clay stabilizers. Its suitability for a particular oilfield formulation remains dependent on mineralogy, water chemistry, other additives, and laboratory qualification.

BISQUAT and Prolonium Chloride: Are They the Same Chemical?

In the context of CAS 55636-09-4, BISQUAT and Prolonium Chloride refer to the same specific chemical entity discussed on this page.

However, the terminology requires some care. “Bisquat” can also function as a general shorthand for compounds containing two quaternary ammonium centers. A quotation described only as “BISQUAT” therefore does not by itself prove that the material is CAS 55636-09-4.

For purchasing and qualification purposes, the most reliable identification sequence is:

1. Confirm the CAS number: 55636-09-4.

2. Confirm the chemical name: (2-hydroxytrimethylene)bis(trimethylammonium) dichloride.

3. Confirm the commercial concentration or assay.

4. Confirm the physical form and batch documentation.

This distinction is especially important because different bis-quaternary structures, formulated cationic packages, and commercial concentrations may all be described with similar clay-control terminology.

Chemical Identity of BISQUAT

The CAS number identifies the chemical substance, not a particular commercial concentration. A 50% aqueous grade, another concentrated solution, and a higher-assay form may all relate to the same chemical identity while differing substantially as commercial products.

Why Is BISQUAT Called a Bis-Quaternary Ammonium Compound?

A quaternary ammonium center is a nitrogen atom bonded to four organic substituents and carrying a permanent positive charge. Unlike a simple amine, the positive charge of a quaternary ammonium group does not depend on protonation.

Prolonium Chloride contains two such trimethylammonium centers connected through a hydroxy-substituted carbon bridge. Two chloride ions balance the positive charges.

This architecture distinguishes a bis-quaternary compound from a mono-quaternary ammonium salt, which contains one cationic ammonium center, and from a polymeric cationic stabilizer, which may contain many charged groups along a much larger molecular chain.

The presence of two charge centers creates the possibility of multi-point interaction with negatively charged mineral surfaces. It does not mean that a bis-quaternary compound automatically delivers twice the adsorption, twice the persistence, or better performance than every mono-quaternary or polymeric product.

Molecular size, bridge structure, charge spacing, salinity, clay mineralogy, competing ions, concentration, and formulation compatibility all influence practical behavior.

Why Is BISQUAT Relevant to Clay Stabilization?

Many clay mineral surfaces carry a net negative charge. Exchangeable cations occupy surface and interlayer sites, and changes in water chemistry can disturb the equilibrium between the clay and the surrounding fluid.

When an incompatible aqueous fluid contacts a water-sensitive formation, several related processes may occur, including hydration, swelling, dispersion, particle detachment, and fines migration. These mechanisms are part of the broader formation-damage problem addressed by oilfield clay stabilizers.

Because BISQUAT is cationic, its positively charged centers can interact with negatively charged clay surfaces. Adsorption and surface-charge modification may help reduce destabilizing clay-water interactions and limit the mobility of fines under suitable conditions.

The presence of two cationic centers is one reason bis-quaternary chemistry is evaluated when formulators want a relatively low-molecular-weight organic clay-control agent with the potential for multi-point surface interaction.

This is the structural concept rather than a universal performance claim. Clay type, fluid composition, competing ions, pH, temperature, treatment concentration, and contact time all influence the result. A more focused explanation is available in how BISQUAT works as a clay stabilizer.

Clay Swelling, Dispersion and Fines Migration

Clay-related formation damage is not limited to swelling. Expandable clays such as smectite may hydrate and increase in volume after contact with an incompatible aqueous fluid, but other clay minerals can cause damage mainly by releasing mobile particles.

Illite and kaolinite, for example, may contribute to fines migration even when bulk swelling is limited. Once detached, small particles can move through the pore network and accumulate at narrow pore throats, reducing effective permeability.

For a deeper discussion of these mechanisms, see clay swelling and fines migration.

Where Is BISQUAT Used?

Bis-quaternary clay-control chemistry may be evaluated in several aqueous oilfield treatment systems where water-sensitive minerals or mobile fines are a formation-protection concern. The chemical identity alone, however, does not qualify the material for every application.

Hydraulic Fracturing

Water-based fracturing fluids expose newly created fracture surfaces to substantial volumes of aqueous fluid. Clay swelling or fines migration can affect fracture-face permeability and other flow paths.

Cationic clay-control additives must also coexist with friction reducers, polymers, surfactants, scale inhibitors, biocides, breakers, and the selected source water. Compatibility with anionic friction reducers can be particularly important.

Application-specific selection and compatibility considerations are discussed in clay stabilizers for hydraulic fracturing.

Acidizing and Well Stimulation

Acidizing creates a different chemical environment. Low pH, mineral dissolution, increasing concentrations of dissolved ions, spent acid, corrosion inhibitors, iron-control agents, surfactants, and overflush fluids can all influence clay-control behavior.

A result obtained in brine or fracturing fluid should therefore not automatically be transferred to an acid system. The relevant issues are discussed separately in clay stabilizers for acidizing and well stimulation.

Completion, Workover and Formation-Protection Fluids

Completion and workover fluids can also expose water-sensitive formations to aqueous systems that differ from the native formation brine. Clay-control chemistry may be evaluated where formation analysis indicates a risk of swelling, dispersion, or fines migration.

Actual use should be based on application-specific testing rather than on the CAS number alone.

BISQUAT Compared with Other Clay-Control Chemistries

BISQUAT is one option within a much broader clay-control toolkit. Different chemistry classes address different formulation and operational requirements.

This comparison is not a performance ranking. A conventional inorganic salt may be appropriate for one operation, while an organic cationic or polymeric approach may be selected for another.

For a dedicated comparison of BISQUAT with common inorganic and organic alternatives, see BISQUAT vs KCl, NH4Cl and Choline Chloride for clay stabilization.

Is BISQUAT a Permanent Clay Stabilizer?

The term “permanent clay stabilizer” is commonly used in the oilfield industry for chemistries intended to provide more persistent surface interaction than simple soluble salts. It should not be interpreted as a scientific guarantee that a treated clay surface will remain stabilized indefinitely.

Adsorbed organic cations may remain associated with a mineral surface after the original treatment fluid has been displaced, but persistence can still be affected by subsequent brines, produced water, competing ions, pH, temperature, wash-off, and later treatment fluids.

For this reason, it is more precise to discuss temporary versus longer-term or more persistent clay stabilization under defined conditions. See permanent vs temporary clay stabilizers for a detailed comparison.

BISQUAT Commercial Forms and Active Content

Commercial Prolonium Chloride / BISQUAT may be offered in different physical forms or concentrations depending on the supplier and grade. Chemical identity and commercial concentration should therefore be treated as separate questions.

For example, a buyer may encounter a dry or higher-assay material and one or more aqueous solution grades. This does not mean that every supplier offers every form or that concentrations used by different suppliers are directly interchangeable.

The distinction between commercial product weight and active ingredient is important. A simple arithmetic example illustrates the point:

100 kg of a 50% active solution contains 50 kg of active ingredient.

This is an active-content calculation only. It is not a recommended oilfield treatment dosage.

For concentration conversions, see how to calculate BISQUAT active content. For the commercial and logistics differences among commonly discussed forms, see BISQUAT powder vs 50% vs 68% solution.

How Buyers Should Verify BISQUAT Identity

A purchasing specification should not rely only on descriptions such as “BISQUAT,” “Prolonium Chloride,” “bis-quat,” or “clay stabilizer.” Buyers should confirm the underlying chemical identity and commercial grade.

Useful verification items include:

• CAS number 55636-09-4

• chemical name

• active content or assay

• physical form

• counter-ion

• appearance

• relevant grade-specific quality parameters

• batch COA

• current SDS

• TDS or technical information

• batch traceability

Different suppliers can use different naming conventions and concentration bases. Establishing identity before comparing price helps prevent two chemically or commercially different materials from being treated as equivalent.

What Should Be Checked on a BISQUAT COA?

A Certificate of Analysis should show that the delivered batch conforms to the commercial grade that was qualified and purchased.

Depending on the physical form and agreed specification, relevant COA items may include:

• product identity

• batch number

• appearance

• assay or active content

• water content where applicable

• pH where applicable to solution grades

• density where applicable

• relevant impurities

• production or analysis date

Exact acceptance limits are commercial-grade-specific and should not be inferred from the CAS number alone. A detailed procurement guide is available in BISQUAT COA and specifications.

What BISQUAT Buyers Should Ask Before Ordering

1. Is the quoted material CAS 55636-09-4?

2. What exact chemical name appears on the specification and SDS?

3. What is the assay or active content?

4. Is the material supplied as a solid or aqueous solution?

5. What packaging is currently available?

6. Can a representative batch COA be provided?

7. Is a current SDS and TDS available?

8. Can a sample be supplied for qualification?

9. What is the MOQ?

10. What is the commercial lead time?

11. What transport classification applies to the exact grade?

12. Can the required export documentation be provided?

This article explains the chemical identity and general application context. For current commercial grade, documentation, packaging, and supply information, refer to the Prolonium Chloride / BISQUAT CAS 55636-09-4 product page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BISQUAT?

In this article, BISQUAT refers to Prolonium Chloride, CAS 55636-09-4, chemically identified as (2-hydroxytrimethylene)bis(trimethylammonium) dichloride. It is a cationic bis-quaternary ammonium compound associated with clay-control and formation-protection formulations. Because “bisquat” can also describe a broader chemical class, buyers should confirm the CAS number and chemical name.

Is BISQUAT the same as Prolonium Chloride?

When CAS 55636-09-4 is intended, BISQUAT and Prolonium Chloride refer to the same chemical discussed here. However, BISQUAT can also be used more loosely for bis-quaternary ammonium chemistry, so trade descriptions should always be checked against the CAS number and product documents.

What is CAS 55636-09-4?

CAS 55636-09-4 identifies Prolonium Chloride, (2-hydroxytrimethylene)bis(trimethylammonium) dichloride. The material is a cationic bis-quaternary ammonium compound with two trimethylammonium centers and chloride counter-ions.

Is BISQUAT a quaternary ammonium compound?

Yes. More specifically, Prolonium Chloride is a bis-quaternary ammonium compound because the molecule contains two permanently charged quaternary ammonium centers rather than one.

Why is BISQUAT used for clay stabilization?

Its cationic centers can interact with negatively charged clay surfaces. This makes the chemistry relevant to controlling clay-water interactions, dispersion, and fines mobility under suitable conditions. Practical performance still depends on clay mineralogy, water chemistry, concentration, temperature, competing additives, and the treatment-fluid system.

Is BISQUAT a permanent clay stabilizer?

It may be evaluated where more persistent surface interaction than simple ionic salt control is desired, but “permanent” should not be treated as an absolute guarantee. Later brines, produced water, competing ions, pH, temperature, and additional well treatments can influence retention.

Is BISQUAT available as powder or solution?

Different commercial forms or concentrations may be offered depending on the supplier and grade. Buyers should confirm current availability, active content, packaging, and SDS for the specific material being quoted rather than assuming that all forms are always available.

What should buyers check before purchasing BISQUAT?

Confirm CAS 55636-09-4, chemical name, active content, commercial form, COA, SDS, TDS, packaging, sample availability, MOQ, lead time, and transport classification. Application-specific compatibility should also be evaluated before bulk qualification.

Technical References and Further Reading

• PubChem. Prolonium chloride, CID 6453216. Chemical identity record for CAS 55636-09-4, including molecular formula C9H24Cl2N2O and molecular weight 247.20 g/mol.

• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). (2-hydroxytrimethylene)bis(trimethylammonium) dichloride. EC / List No. 259-734-7; CAS 55636-09-4.

• U.S. FDA Global Substance Registration System (GSRS). Prolonium substance hierarchy; Prolonium Chloride listed as an active form with UNII 4IBH37ORJM.

• Alaskar, S. “Clay Stabilizers: A Tug of War Between Performance and Sustainability.” Journal of Petroleum Technology, July 18, 2023.

• Civan, F. and Knapp, R. M. “Effect of Clay Swelling and Fines Migration on Formation Permeability.” SPE 16235, SPE Production Operations Symposium, Oklahoma City, 1987.

• Wilson, M. J., Wilson, L. and Patey, I. “The Influence of Individual Clay Minerals on Formation Damage of Reservoir Sandstones: A Critical Review with Some New Insights.” Clay Minerals, Vol. 49, Issue 2, 2014, pp. 147–164. DOI: 10.1180/claymin.2014.049.2.02.

• U.S. Patent Application US20150210913A1. “Clay Stabilizer and Method of Use.” Describes low-molecular-weight bis-quaternary ammonium compounds for clay stabilization in subterranean formations.

Prolonium Chloride / BISQUAT Supply from Aure Chemical

Aure Chemical supports international customers sourcing specialty chemical raw materials, including Prolonium Chloride / BISQUAT CAS 55636-09-4. Support can include chemical-identity confirmation, commercial-grade review, COA / SDS / TDS coordination, sample arrangements, active-concentration confirmation, packaging review, export documentation, and logistics coordination.

Aure Chemical operates as a specialty chemical supplier and sourcing partner. Supply of the raw material does not imply a guaranteed field-performance result, universal formulation compatibility, or a recommended oilfield treatment dosage.

For project evaluation, buyers can provide the required commercial form, target active concentration, estimated quantity, intended application, destination country or port, and packaging preference so that current supply options and documentation can be confirmed.