Method of promoting nucleation of solute in a solution

A method of promoting nucleation of a solute, dissolved in a solvent to form a solution, so as to convert dissolved solute into a dispersed phase, comprising the steps of reducing the solubility for the solute and introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the solution, the free excess charge being introduced from prior to nucleation taking place at least until nucleation of the solute in the charged solution takes place so as to produce said dispersed phase.

A method of promoting nucleation of wax, dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range, so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture, comprising the steps of introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the wax-containing oil mixture and reducing the solubility for the wax in the oil mixture, at least one of said steps being carried out from prior to nucleation taking place at least until nucleation of dissolved wax in the charged wax-containing oil mixture takes place so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture.

A method of promoting nucleation of wax, dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range, so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture, comprising the steps of reducing the solubility for the wax and introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the wax-containing oil mixture, the free excess charge being introduced from prior to nucleation taking place at least until nucleation of dissolved wax in the charged wax-containing oil mixture takes place so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture.

A method of promoting nucleation of wax, dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range, so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture, comprising the steps of recycling a quantity of said oil mixture around a closed circuit, continuously extracting heat from the circulating oil mixture for progressively reducing the temperature of the circulating oil mixture, and introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the circulating oil mixture, said steps being continued at least until nucleation of dissolved wax in the charged oil mixture takes place so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture.

A method of promoting nucleation of wax dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil mixture, so as to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture, comprising the steps of introducing a quantity of said wax-containing hydrocarbon oil mixture diluted with a vaporizable oil solvent liquid additive into a container vessel, continuously allowing said liquid additive to vaporize into a vapor space above the oil mixture in said container vessel, so as to progressively reduce the temperature of the oil mixture in the container vessel, continuously introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into a flow of make-up vaporizable liquid additive and continuously directing the charged make-up liquid additive through said vapor space and into contact with said quantity of oil mixture in the container vessel, said steps being continued at least until nucleation of dissolved wax in the charged admixture of oil mixture and vaporizable liquid additive in the container vessel takes place to convert dissolved wax into wax particles in the oil mixture.

A method of precipitating wax dissolved in a hydrocarbon oil mixture boiling in the lubricating oil range, to form open structures of wax crystals in approximately edge-to-face orientation, comprising the steps of reducing the solubility for the wax and introducing free excess charge which is net unipolar into the oil mixture, at least one of said steps being carried out until nucleation of dissolved wax in the charged wax-containing oil mixture takes place and at least one of said steps being carried out, after said nucleation has occurred, until was crystals have formed into said open structures.