Process for forming stable aqueous asphalt emulsions
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorShailaja Madhusudhan Shirodkar
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Abstract
A petroleum derived oil is subjected to crude oil distillation or propane deasphalting to yield a viscous asphalt residue. The viscous asphalt residue is combined with an aqueous emulsifier comprising an EO-PO-EO block copolymer and passed through a mixer at 60.degree. C. to 70.degree. C. to form an emulsion. Criticality has been found in the amount of propylene oxide in the block copolymer and in the asphalt particle size. These emulsions are stable and can be transported by pumping through a pipeline. They are used as boiler fuel. They are also gasified with insufficient oxygen to produce synthesis gas.
Claims15
A process for forming an aqueous asphalt emulsion comprising:
- a. deasphalting a petroleum oil with a deasphalting solvent to yield an asphalt residue;
- b. admixing water and 0.001 wt % to 10 wt % of a copolymer combination to form an emulsifier, the copolymer combination comprising a mixture of copolymers of the formula
- HO--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.x --(CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)O).sub.y --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.z --H
- wherein in said mixture:
- the average of x ranges from 5 to 45,
- the average of y ranges from 34 to 52,
- the average of z ranges from 5 to 45, and
- wherein:
- the average molecular weight for the copolymer mixture ranges from 1500 to 10,000;
- c:
- admixing the emulsifier with 60 wt % to 80 wt % of the asphalt residue to form an admixture;
- and
- d:
- subjecting the admixture to size reduction at a size reduction temperature of 50.degree. C. to 100.degree. C., thereby reducing the asphalt residue contained therein to asphalt particles having an average particle diameter of 30 microns or less, thereby yielding an aqueous asphalt emulsion.
A process for forming an aqueous asphalt emulsion comprising:
- a. deasphalting a petroleum oil with a deasphalting solvent to yield an asphalt residue;
- b. admixing water and 0.1 wt % to 5 wt % of a copolymer combination to form an emulsifier, the copolymer combination comprising a mixture of copolymers of the formula:
- HO--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.x --(CH.sub.2 CH(CH.sub.3)O).sub.y --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.z --H
- wherein in said mixture:
- the average of x ranges from 5 to 45,
- the average of y ranges from 34 to 52,
- the average of z ranges from 5 to 45, and
- wherein:
- the average molecular weight for the copolymer mixture ranges from 1500 to 6,000;
- c. admixing the emulsifier with 60 wt % to 80 wt % of the asphalt residue to form an admixture;
- and
- d. subjecting the admixture to size reduction at a size reduction temperature of 50.degree. C. to 95.degree. C., thereby reducing the asphalt residue contained therein to asphalt particles having an average particle diameter of 5 microns to 30 microns, thereby yielding an aqueous asphalt emulsion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.