Aqueous micro-emulsions of organic substances
AssigneeSociete Nationale Elf Aquitaine (Production)
InventorsJacques Tellier, Claude Chambu, Jean-Francois Coste, Henri Grangette
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Abstract
A new surface-active agent of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are hydrocarbon groups, M being a cation it is particularly suitable for the production of micro-emulsions in the presence of aqueous saline solutions. One important application thereof is in the assisted recovery of crude oil.
Claims15
A process for the preparation of a micro-emulsion of hydrocarbon and water which contains at least 60 g of NaCl per liter by the addition of an effective surface active amount of a surface-active agent and a cosurfactant, wherein the said agent is a salt of an N-acyl .alpha.-amino acid which corresponds to the formula:
- ##STR9## wherein R and R' are straight-chain or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals or alkyl-aryl radicals, R being C.sub.6 to C.sub.120, R' being C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 and M being an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, ammonium, an amine group or hydrogen.
A micro-emulsion comprising hydrocarbon, water which contains at least 60 g of NaCl per liter, and an effective surface-active amount of a surface-active agent which corresponds to the formula:
- ##STR10## wherein R and R' are straight-chain or branched aliphatic hydrocarbon radicals or alkyl-aryl radicals, R being C.sub.6 to C.sub.120, R' being C.sub.1 to C.sub.18 and M being an alkali metal cation, an alkaline earth metal cation, ammonium, an amine group or hydrogen, and an alcohol cosurfactant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.