Composition and process for recovery of spilled hydrocarbons from aqueous environments
AssigneePolyfoam Products, Inc.
InventorsPat Donahue, E. Richard Huber, Pat L. Murray
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process and polymer foam composition for removing hydrocarbon material from wanted material containing water by bringing an isocyanate-containing prepolymer and a gaseous expansion agent, with or without a diluent and/or cell control agent, into contact with the materials, allowing the composition to react with the water to form a flexible foam and removing the polymer foam obtained from the wanted material.
Claims20
A process for removing hydrocarbon material from wanted material comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a prepolymer, said prepolymer having an NCO value of 2-10% by weight and being the reaction product obtained by reacting an excessive amount of polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate comprising at least 25% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a liquid variant thereof with a polyether polyol having an average nominal hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 4, a number average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 500 to 3000, and an oxyethylene content of at least 50% by weight,
- blending a compressed gas with said prepolymer to create a modified prepolymer, said compressed gas being a propellant,
- mixing said modified prepolymer with water in a static mixer, characterized in that the modified prepolymer is mixed with 1-100 parts by weight of the water per part weight of the modified prepolymer, said compressed gas providing necessary turbulence in said static mixer to achieve a satisfactory mix,
- bringing the mixed modified prepolymer and water composition into contact with the materials within 10 seconds of mixing;
- allowing the prepolymer to react with at least part of the water to form a flexible foam;
- and
- removing the foam obtained from the wanted material.
A polymer foam composition adapted for spraying on a hydrocarbon material and a wanted material in the presence of water to remove the hydrocarbon material from the wanted material, the polymer foam composition comprising:
- a prepolymer having an NCO value of 2-10% by weight and being the reaction product obtained by reacting an excessive amount of polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate comprising at least 25% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a liquid variant thereof with a polyether polyol having an average nominal hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 4, a number average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 500 to 3000, and an oxyethylene content of at least 50% by weight;
- and
- modifying said prepolymer with a blowing agent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.