Method for fluidizing tars

Process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion, comprising the steps of:

• mixing a mixture (M) comprising:
• a viscous tar composition formed from at least one tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water,
• water (W),
• at least one surface-active agent (SA) and,
• optionally, at least one thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than about 10,000,
• wherein the relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) being such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is equal to or greater than one tenth of the viscosity of said tar,
• wherein the surface-active agent is selected from the group consisting of nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and mixtures thereof.

Process for the preparation of an aqueous tar suspoemulsion, comprising the steps of:

• mixing a mixture (M) comprising:
• a viscous tar composition formed from at least one tar, from inorganic solids and, optionally, from water,
• water (W),
• at least one surface-active agent (SA) exhibiting a hydrophilicity/lipophilicity balance (HLB) of at least about 10 and,
• optionally, at least one thickening water-soluble polymer (TWP) with a molecular mass of greater than about 10,000,
• wherein the relative amounts of constituents (W), (SA) and, optionally, (TWP) being such that the viscosity of the (W)+(SA)+optional (TWP) mixture is equal to or greater than one tenth of the viscosity of said tar,
• wherein the surface-active agent comprises an anionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of a hydrophobe attached to a carboxylate polar solubilizing group, a hydrophobe attached to a phosphate polar solubilizing group, alkyl sulfates, alkarylether sulfates, dialkyl sulphosuccinates, alkyl benzene sulfonates having between 8 and 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, alkyl ether sulfates having between 8 and 22 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, organic sulfuric reaction products having in their molecular structure an alkyl, or alkaryl group containing from 8 to 22 carbon atoms and a sulfonic or sulfuric acid ester group, and the sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, barium, iron, ammonium and amine salts of such anionic surfactant.