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US 12,600,897 B2Granted
Lignin-based diluent and related methods
AssigneeLignoSol IP Limited
InventorsDesmond Alexander Somerville, Patrick Dieter Waibel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Diluents are provided for heavy oil treatment applications, in particular for treating bitumen. In some embodiments, the diluents comprise lignin, in particular technical lignin, and at least one strain of bacteria capable of biosurfactant production and/or a biosurfactant produced by at least one such isolated strain of bacteria.
Claims20
A method of diluting a heavy oil containing material, the method comprising:
- providing a diluent comprising i) lignin and ii) at least one isolated strain of bacteria capable of producing at least one biosurfactant and/or at least one biosurfactant produced from the at least one bacteria, the diluent comprising from about 1 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of concentrated lignin;
- and
- contacting the heavy oil containing material with the diluent in an amount sufficient to form a diluted material capable of being transported by pipeline or rail, wherein the amount of the diluent in the diluted material is from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. %.
A composition comprising a heavy oil containing material and from about 5 wt. % to about 60 wt. % of a diluent, wherein the diluent comprises:
- i) from about 1 wt. % to about 65 wt. % of concentrated lignin and ii) at least one isolated strain of bacteria capable of producing at least one biosurfactant and/or at least one biosurfactant produced from the at least one isolated strain of bacteria.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.