Fuel oil reclamation
AssigneeSulnox Group PLC
InventorsJames REDMAN, Dan CLARKE
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided a demulsifier comprising at least one C8 to C18 fatty acid diethanolamide, at least one C12 to C24 fatty acid, at least one C6 to C18 alcohol ethoxylate for use in the recovery of a fuel oil from a fuel oil-in-water emulsion. There is additionally provided a process for the recovery of a fuel oil from a fuel oil-in-water emulsion using the demulsifier.
Claims16
A process for recovering oil from an oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
- (i) adding at least 0.01 wt % demulsifier to said oil-in-water emulsion
- (ii) dispersing the demulsifier in the oil using ultrasonication at between 2-50 Ws/g;
- (iii) allowing the oil and aqueous phases to separate;
- wherein the demulsifier comprises
- a. at least one C8 to C18 fatty acid diethanolamide;
- b. at least one C12 to C24 fatty acid;
- c. at least one C6 to C18 alcohol ethoxylate and optionally
- d. at least one sorbitan ester.
The process of any preceding claim wherein the demulsifier comprises oleic acid.
The process any preceding claim wherein the demulsifier comprises:
- a. 50-90 wt % of at least one C8 to C18 fatty acid diethanolamide;
- b. 2-10 wt % of at least one C12 to C24 fatty acid;
- c. 5-20 wt % of at least one C6 to C18 alcohol ethoxylate;
- and optionally
- d. 10-40 wt % of at least one sorbitan ester.
A process of any preceding claim wherein the ultrasonication is carried out at 2-15 Ws/g
A process of any preceding claim, further comprising
- (i1) converting a water-in-oil emulsion to an oil-in-water by adding a volume of water greater than or equal to the volume of the water-in-oil emulsion.
The process of any preceding claim, wherein the demulsifier is added together with at least one C12 to C24 fatty acid and/or alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether.
A process for recovering oil from a waste oil-in-water emulsion comprising:
- (i) adding at least 0.01 wt % demulsifier to said oil-in-water emulsion
- (ii) dispersing the demulsifier in the oil using ultrasonication at between 2-50 Ws/g;
- (iii) allowing the oil and aqueous phases to separate;
- wherein the demulsifier comprises a C12-C24 carboxylic or sulphonic acid or a C8 to C18 fatty acid diethanolamide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.