Methods for extinguishing petroleum-based fires, suppressing petroleum-released vapors and cleaning petroleum-contaminated surfaces
AssigneeHans Achtmann
InventorPeter Riley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compositions and methods for emulsifying a petroleum product that has been spilled upon a portion of the earth's surface or that is burning are based upon use of a nonionic, primary surfactant composition comprising a first ethoxylated sorbitol oleate and, preferably, a second ethoxylated sorbitol oleate, and a nonionic, secondary surfactant that is capable of stabilizing and solubilizing the primary surfactant composition such that the resulting emulsifying compositions have a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance between about 12.0 and about 13.5.
Claims14
A method for cleaning a surface contaminated with petroleum and/or petroleum-based product, comprising applying to said surface a composition comprising:
- (a) a nonionic primary surfactant comprising an ethoxylated sorbitol oleate;
- (b) a nonionic secondary surfactant selected from the group consisting of linear ethoxylated secondary alcohols, polyoxyethylene aryl ethers, ethoxylated sorbitan monolaureates, ethoxylated fatty acid amides, and ethoxylated fatty acids and containing about 7 moles to about 26 moles of ethylene oxide and comprising from about 20 to about 36 weight percent of said composition, and wherein said nonionic secondary surfactant is capable of stabilizing and solubilizing said nonionic primary surfactant such that said composition has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance between about 12.0 and about 13.5;
- and
- (c) water.
A method for accelerating biodegradation rate of a petroleum or petroleum-based product, comprising applying to said product a composition comprising:
- (a) a nonionic primary surfactant comprising an ethoxylated sorbitol oleate;
- (b) a nonionic secondary surfactant selected from the group consisting of linear ethoxylated secondary alcohols, polyoxyethylene aryl ethers, ethoxylated sorbitan monolaureates, ethoxylated fatty acid amides, and ethoxylated fatty acids and containing about 7 moles to about 26 moles of ethylene oxide and comprising from about 20 to about 36 weight percent of said composition, and wherein said nonionic secondary surfactant is capable of stabilizing and solubilizing said nonionic primary surfactant such that said composition has a hydrophilic/lipophilic balance between about 12.0 and about 13.5;
- and
- (c) water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.