Abstract:
Several procedures are provided for the thermal rearrangement of a water emulsion, of or a mixture with water, of a feedstock selected from the group consisting of tar sand bitumen, heavy oil, refinery residue and a heavy waste oil stream, the feedstock containing a naturally-occurring, finely-divided mineral material. The essence of such procedures involves contacting the water emulsion or the water mixture with a gas selected from the group consisting of synthesis gas and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount, i.e., from about 0.3% to about 15% of a bifunctional catalyst that facilitates the water gas shift reaction and also promotes the hydrogenation and stabilization of cracking reaction products. The bifunctional catalyst includes the naturally-occurring, finely-divided mineral material which is contained in the feedstock. The process is conducted under such conditions of pressure and temperature that the water gas shift reaction occurs. Thermally rearranged liquid oil having a lower viscosity and a lower density than that of the feedstock is recovered. In addition, separate streams of gaseous carbon dioxide and gaseous hydrogen are also recovered therefrom.
Abstract:
A surfactant comprising a carboxylic acid ester or amide carrying a terminal strong acid group selected from carboxymethyl, sulphate, sulphonate, phosphate and phosphonate, suitable for stabilising dispersions of solids in organic liquids and oil/water emulsions, processes for the preparation of the surfactant and dispersions and emulsions containing the surfactant. A preferred species of the surfactant is a poly(hydroxyalkanecarboxylic acid) having the strong acid group attached, either directly or through a linking group, to a terminal hydroxy or carboxylic acid group.
Abstract:
A composition is the reaction product of(1) a alkylene diamine condensate compound containing a poly(oxyalkylene)group and having at least two --OH groups;(2) a compound other than as defined in (1) which contains at least two reactive hydrogen atoms present as --OH, --NH.sub.2 or --NHR;(3) a carboxylic acid containing at least two carboxylic acid groups or an anhydride or chloride thereof; and(4) a mono-carboxylic acid, a mono-hydroxycompound, a secondary mono-amine or a hindered primary mono-amine;where components (2) and (3) may be replaced, at least partially, by a substituted carboxylic acid. The resulting composition is non-ionic and can be used to prepare a wide range of emulsions or dispersions of solids in liquids.
Abstract:
A hybrid fuel composition in the form of a stable water-in-oil microemulsion comprises a liquid hydrocarbon fuel, water, a glycolipid surfactant and a vicinal aliphatic diol co-surfactant. The hydrocarbon fuel can be a liquid fuel for autotraction such as gasoline or diesel fuel, or a liquid hydrocarbon fuel for domestic or industrial heating, such as gas oil, naphtha, kerosene and fuel oils in general.
Abstract:
A process for the preparation of low-viscosity improved stable crude oil transport emulsions. The process comprises producing a hydrocarbon crude, and mixing the produced hydrocarbon crude with an emulsifying composition(s) which contains water and is capable of assisting the formation of an oil-in-water emulsion. The amount of the emulsifying composition(s) that is mixed with the produced hydrocarbon crude is sufficient to form an oil-in-water emulsion having water content of from about 10 percent to about 60 percent by weight water and a viscosity sufficiently low for allowing the transport of the formulated oil-in-water emulsion.
Abstract:
A hybrid diesel fuel composition consisting of a conventional diesel fuel, at least one surface-active agent, water, and a consistent proportion of fusel oil.
Abstract:
A process for recovering oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir having a hydrocarbon and penetrated by a wellbore. The process comprises injecting through the wellbore and into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir an emulsifying composition containing an aqueous phase and a minor amount of an emulsifying agent such that the emulsifying composition contacts at least a portion of the hydrocarbon to form an oil-in-aqueous phase emulsion within the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir.
Abstract:
Hydrogen sulfide is removed from a water-in-oil emulsion by treatment of the emulsion with sulfur dioxide to convert the hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The elemental sulfur formed is distributed between the oil phase and the aqueous phase of the emulsion.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions are provided to facilitate the transportation and combustion of highly viscous hydrocarbons by forming reduced viscosity hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions, and in particular, bioemulsifier-stabilized hydrocarbon-in-water emulsions.
Abstract:
This invention relates to the reduction of oxidized sulfur compound (SOX) emissions produced during combustion of sulfur (S)-containing combustible compounds. More particularly, this invention provides a method for reducing such emissions wherein the combustible compound is mixed with an admixture of a water soluble and a water insoluble sulfur sorbent. Use of such admixtures, remarkably, produces a reduction in the SOX level far greater than would be expected based on the activity of each sorbent alone. Extremely viscous hydrocarbons can be burned as preatomized fuels, which can also be mixed with sorbent admixtures. Clean burning fuels comprising sulfur-containing combustible compounds and sorbent admixtures are also provided.