Sludge demulsification process and agents
AssigneeTexchem Group International, L.L.C.
InventorGale James Campbell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention involves the demulsification and liquefaction of hydrocarbon based sludges. A demulsifier and a liquefaction agent and methods of using the same are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the demulsifier contains a salt of DDBSA, polypropylene glycol, and citrene. In a preferred embodiment, the liquefaction agent contains a glycol ether and sodium silicate. In another preferred embodiment, the liquefaction agent contains a glycol ether and citrene. In preferred practice, the sludge is treated with the liquefaction agent, circulated, treated with the demulsifier, and circulated further. An object of the invention is to provide a hydrocarbon based sludge that is sufficiently liquefied to be pumped and which is sufficiently demulsified to allow the waters, oils, and solids in the sludge to separate.
Claims208
A method of demulsifying hydrocarbon based sludge in a tank comprising:
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprised of polyalkylene glycols and dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge, wherein said DDBSA comprises at least about 0.3 percent by volume of said sludge, and wherein said polyalkylene glycols comprise at least about 0.075 percent by volume of said sludge;
- and
- circulating said demulsifier and said sludge.
A method of demulsifying hydrocarbon based sludge comprising:
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprised of polyalkylene glycols and dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge, wherein said DDBSA comprises at least about 0.3 percent by volume of said sludge, and wherein said polyalkylene glycols comprise at least about 0.075 percent by volume of said sludge;
- circulating said demulsifier and said sludge;
- and
- allowing said sludge to separate into a solid, a water, and an oil component.
A method of demulsifying hydrocarbon based sludge in a tank comprising:
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprised of polypropylene glycols and dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge, wherein said DDBSA comprises at least about 0.3 percent by volume of said sludge, and wherein said polypropylene glycols comprise at least about 0.075 percent by volume of said sludge;
- and
- circulating said demulsifier and said sludge.
A method of demulsifying hydrocarbon based sludge comprising:
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprised of polypropylene glycols and dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge, wherein said DDBSA comprises at least about 0.3 percent by volume of said sludge, and wherein said polypropylene glycols comprise at least about 0.075 percent by volume of said sludge;
- circulating said demulsifier and said sludge;
- and
- allowing said sludge to separate into a solid, a water, and an oil component.
A method of liquefying and demulsifying a hydrocarbon based sludge in a tank comprising:
- treating said sludge with a liquefaction agent comprising glycol ethers, wherein said liquefaction agent is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge;
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprising dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge;
- and
- circulating said sludge.
A method of liquefying and demulsifying a hydrocarbon based sludge comprising:
- treating said sludge with a liquefaction agent comprising glycol ethers, wherein said liquefaction agent is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge;
- treating said sludge with a demulsifier comprising dodecyl benzyl sulfonic acid (DDBSA), wherein said demulsifier is provided in a volume of at least about 0.5 percent the volume of said sludge;
- circulating said sludge;
- and
- allowing said sludge to separate into a solid, a water, and an oil component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.