# US 4,396,499 A · Demulsification of bitumen emulsions using water soluble salts of polymers

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- Number: US 4,396,499 A
- Document ID: US4396499A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/326,462
- Filed: 1981-12-02
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1981-12-02
- Assignees: Texaco Inc.
- Inventors: David R. McCoy; Michael Cuscurida; George P. Speranza
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396499A

## CPC

- B01D 17/047: {with separation aids}
- C10G 33/04: with chemical means
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES

## Abstract

A process for recovering bitumen from oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions is disclosed wherein water soluble demulsifiers are used. These demulsifiers are water soluble salts of polymers prepared by the reaction between certain polyoxyalkylene diamines with diepoxides. To resolve the bituminous petroleum emulsions, the process is carried out between 25.degree. and 160.degree. C. wherein the demulsifier of the invention is contacted with the bituminous emulsion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for recovering petroleum from O/W bitumen emulsions by demulsifying said emulsions comprising contacting the emulsions at a temperature of from between about 25.degree. and 160.degree. C. with water soluble salts of polymers prepared from the reaction of polyoxyalkylene diamines of the structure ##STR11## where R=H, CH.sub.3, and/or CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3 with diepoxides of the general structure ##STR12## wherein R' is an aromatic or aliphatic group and wherein the polymers are greater than about 2,900 molecular weight and contain greater than about 3.2 meq/g nitrogen.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein the diepoxide is the diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein the polyoxyalkylenediamine has the structure ##STR13##

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein the polyoxyalkylenediamine has the structure ##STR14##

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as in claim 1 wherein R' additionally contains ether groupings.