Abstract:
Compositions for treating high-molecular-weight components of a petroleum fluid are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, such compositions include olefinic ester compounds, such as alkyl esters of C 10-18 unsaturated fatty acids. In some embodiments, such compositions are added to a petroleum fluid to improve the rheological properties, e.g., breaking up or inhibiting the precipitation of high-molecular-weight components of petroleum fluids. In some other embodiments, such compositions are used for removing deposits of such high-molecular-weight components from the surfaces of equipment used for extracting or transporting petroleum or natural gas.
Abstract:
Methods and compositions are provided for refining natural oils and for producing high-weight esters, high-weight acids, and/or high-weight derivatives thereof, wherein the compositions are made by cross-metathesizing low-weight unsaturated esters or low-weight unsaturated acids having hydrocarbon chain lengths less than or equal to C24 with an olefin feedstock, thereby forming a metathesized product composition comprising high-weight esters or high-weight acids having hydrocarbon chain lengths greater than C18, wherein at least a portion of the hydrocarbon chain lengths in the metathesized product are larger than the hydrocarbon chain lengths in the starting feedstock. In certain embodiments, the low-weight unsaturated esters or low-weight unsaturated acids are derived by reacting a natural oil feedstock in a metathesis reactor in the presence of a metathesis catalyst to form a metathesized product composition comprising olefins and low-weight unsaturated esters, and then separating the olefins from the low-weight unsaturated esters. In some embodiments, the low-weight unsaturated ester compositions may be hydrolyzed to form the low-weight unsaturated acid compositions.
Abstract:
Methods and systems for treating an aqueous effluent from a metathesis reactor, such as a metathesis-based biorefinery, are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, the aqueous effluent is generated from washing the metathesized product with an aqueous medium. In some embodiments, such wash streams are chemically treated to reduce their toxicity and to facilitate disposal. In some embodiments, such wash streams are treated to recover at least a portion of the catalyst residue, so as to facilitate catalyst recovery.
Abstract:
Compositions including olefinic ester compounds are generally disclosed. In some embodiments, such compositions are cleaning compositions, and can be used to clean various surfaces (e.g., hard surfaces, etc.) and/or materials (e.g., textiles, fibers, etc.). In some embodiments, the olefinic ester compounds are derived from a natural oil or a natural oil derivative, for example, by catalytic olefin metathesis.
Abstract:
The oligomerization of certain carboxylic acids and alkyl esters derived from natural oils is disclosed. This includes the oligomerization of C 10-17 unsaturated carboxylic acids such as 9-decenoic acid, where the oligomerization yields a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-carboxylic acids. This also includes the oligomerization of certain alkyl esters, including the oligomerization of C 10-17 unsaturated alkyl esters such as methyl 9-decenoate (9-DAME), where the oligomerization yields a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-carboxylic acid esters. Various end use applications for the oligomerized carboxylic acids and oligomerized alkyl esters are also disclosed.