Triple tail surfactant formulations for emulsification of heavy hydrocarbons
AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.
InventorsRamesh Varadaraj, Max Leo Robbins, Salvatore James Pace
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Abstract
A triple tail surfactant composition useful in emulsifying viscous hydrocarbon with water is disclosed. The composition includes an organic solvent and at least one triple tail surfactant represented by the formulae ##STR1## where R is where R is an alkyl group of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms; A is a polyhydric alcohol radical, especially a hexitol radical; Y an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 4 carbon atoms; n is an integer of from 0 to 25; and Z is --H, --SO.sup.-.sub.3 M.sup.+, --SO.sup.-.sub.2 M.sup.+, or --PO.sup.-.sub.3 M.sup.+ where M is an alkali metal.
Claims1
A method for forming an emulsion of viscous hydrocarbon in water comprising:
- (a) mixing a viscous hydrocarbon with a composition containing (i) an organic solvent and (ii) at least one triple tail surfactant represented by the formula ##STR5## where R is an alkyl group of from about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms and n is an integer of from 0 to 25 to form a treated hydrocarbon and then:
- (b) mixing the treated hydrocarbon with water in an amount sufficient to form a hydrocarbon in water emulsion,
- wherein the mixing of step (a) is at a temperature in the range of about 10.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C.,
- wherein the mixing of step (b) is conducted at a temperature in the range of about 10.degree. C. to 75.degree. C., and
- wherein the composition of step (a) contains 25 wt. % to 75 wt. % of surfactants, the balance being solvent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.