Reducing slurry emulsion and foaming in oxidation-reduction sulfur removal processes

Abstract

A surfactant composition in aqueous phase includes 0.5% to 15% by weight of an alkoxylated block copolymer and 0.5% to 15% by weight of an alcohol ethoxylate. The non-ionic alkyl ethoxylate is a fast wetting agent. The block copolymer, which is characterized by a longer wetting time than the non-ionic alkyl ethoxylate, disrupts the emulsion and allows the now-coated sulfur particles to escape the existing emulsion. The composition may also include an alkyl alcohol and/or glycol ether. The alkyl alcohol augments the emulsion-breaking capabilities of the diblock copolymer by providing additional surface tension reduction to the system, as well as emulsion inhibition at the aqueous-gaseous interface. The glycol ether acts as a mutual solvent, which also augments the emulsion breaking capabilities of the diblock copolymer by providing additional surface tension reduction to the system, as well as emulsion inhibition at the aqueous-gaseous interface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.