Emulsion of viscous hydrocarbon in aqueous buffer solution and method for preparing same
US5480583A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 4, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jan 2, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S516/929
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
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 dro…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.