Abstract:
A stable, low viscosity bimodal oil in water emulsion having an emulsifier, a continuous water phase and a discontinuous oil phase having an oil:water ratio of from about 70:30 to about 85:15 by weight, the discontinuous oil phase being characterized by two distinct oil droplet sizes D.sub.L and D.sub.S wherein D.sub.L is about 10 to 40 microns and D.sub.S is less than or equal to 5 microns, the ratio of D.sub.L /D.sub.S is greater than or equal to 4 and about 45 to 85% by weight of the oil is in oil droplet size D.sub.L.
Abstract:
A method for forming a stable emulsion of a viscous hydrocarbon in an aqueous buffer solution includes the steps of: providing a viscous hydrocarbon containing an inactive natural surfactant and having a salt content by weight of less than or equal to about 15 ppm and having a water content by weight of less than or equal to about 0.1%; forming a solution of a buffer additive in an aqueous solution to provide a basic aqueous buffer solution, the buffer additive being operative to extract and activate the inactive natural surfactant from the viscous hydrocarbon; and mixing the viscous hydrocarbon with the aqueous buffer solution at a rate sufficient to provide an emulsion of the viscous hydrocarbon in the aqueous buffer solution, whereby the buffer additive extracts the inactive natural surfactant from the viscous hydrocarbon into the aqueous buffer solution and activates the inactive natural surfactant so as to stabilize the emulsion. According to the invention, the buffer additive is a water soluble amine. The inactive natural surfactant contained in the viscous hydrocarbon includes carboxylic acids, phenols, esters, and mixtures thereof. Bimodal emulsions, having two distinct droplet size distributions, are also formed according to the method of the present invention and have improved viscosity characteristics.
Abstract:
A method for the preparation of a hydrocarbon in water emulsion from viscous hydrocarbons wherein aging of the emulsion over time is substantially eliminated comprises forming a concentrated emulsion characterized by a water content of less than or equal to 15%/wt. and an average oil droplet size of less than or equal to 4 microns and thereafter forming a final emulsion by diluting the concentrated hydrocarbon in water emulsion with water so as to obtain a water content of less than or equal to 30%/wt. and stirring said diluted emulsion so as to obtain a final hydrocarbon in water emulsion having an average oil droplet size of greater than or equal to 15 microns.
Abstract:
A process for controlling sulfur-oxide formation and emissions when burning a combustible fuel prepared from a hydrocarbon containing sulfur comprising forming a hydrocarbon in water emulsion and adding to the hydrocarbon in water emulsion a water soluble additive selected from the group consisting of Na.sup.+, K.sup.+, Li.sup.+, Ca.sup.++, Ba.sup.++, Mg.sup.++, Fe.sup.+++ and mixtures thereof so as to obtain SO.sub.2 emission levels upon combustion of said emulsion of less than or equal to 1.50 LB/MMBTU.