# US 8,147,680 B2 · Separating compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,147,680 B2 - Document ID: US8147680B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/952,963 - Filed: 2010-11-23 - Published: 2011-03-17 - Granted: 2012-04-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-06 - Assignees: Vary Petrochem, LLC - Inventors: Robert C Yeggy; Vito J Altavilla - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8147680B2 ## CPC - C10G 1/047: {Hot water or cold water extraction processes} - C10G: CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVE HYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION (cracking to hydrogen or synthesis gas C01B; cracking or pyrolysis of hydrocarbon gases to individual hydrocarbons or mixtures thereof of definite or specified constitution C07C; cracking to cokes C10B); RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, OR GASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; MINERAL WAXES ## Abstract A water-based separating composition for separating hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing material includes at least about 71% by weight water, a hydrotropic agent, a dispersant having flocculating characteristics, a wetting agent, and at least one acid and at least one base in amounts sufficient to provide the separating composition with a pH of about 7 to about 8.5. The hydrotropic agent and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics are different. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A water-based separating composition for separating hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing material, said separating composition comprising: at least about 71% by weight water; a hydrotropic agent; a dispersant having flocculating characteristics; a wetting agent; and at least one acid and at least one base, in amounts sufficient to provide the separating composition with a pH of about 7 to about 8.5; wherein the hydrotropic agent and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics are different. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrotropic agent is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of the separating composition; and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics is present in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 4.5% by weight of the separating composition. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises at least about 89% by weight water. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1 wherein the wetting agent comprises an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the wetting agent comprises 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyn-5,8-diol ethoxylate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises a phosphorylated nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises an aromatic phosphate ester having the formula: wherein R1 is a C1-C5 linear or branched alkyl group and n=1 to 8. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises a phosphate salt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises one or more of sodium acid pyrophosphate and tetrapotassium pyrophosphate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the pH of the separating composition is from about 7.6 to about 8.5. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a strong base and is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 9.5% by weight of the separating composition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition is essentially free of organic solvent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The composition of claim 1, further comprising hydrocarbon-containing material wherein the ratio of the separating composition to the hydrocarbon-containing material is from about 2:3 to about 3:2. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The separating composition of claim 1, wherein the acid comprises a heavy acid, and is present in an amount of from about 1.7% to about 8.6% by weight. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The separating composition of claim 1, wherein the acid has a specific gravity of greater than about 1.5. ### Claim 16 A water-based separating composition for separating hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing material, said separating composition comprising: at least about 71% by weight water; from about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of a hydrotropic agent; and from about 0.25% to about 4.5% by weight of a dispersant having flocculating characteristics; from about 0.001% to about 2.5% by weight of a wetting agent; and at least one acid and at least one base in amounts sufficient to provide the separating composition with a pH of about 7 to about 8.5, wherein the hydrotropic agent and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics are different. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the separating composition has a pH of from about 7.6 to about 8.5. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the composition comprises at least about 89% by weight water. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the wetting agent comprises an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the wetting agent comprises 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyn-5,8-diol ethoxylate. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises a phosphorylated nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises an aromatic phosphate ester having the formula: wherein R1 is a C1-C5 linear or branched alkyl group and n=1 to 8. ### Claim 23 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises a phosphate salt. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises one or more of sodium acid pyrophosphate and tetrapotassium pyrophosphate. ### Claim 25 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the acid is a heavy acid and is present in an amount of from about 1.7% to about 8.6% by weight. ### Claim 26 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the acid has a specific gravity of greater than about 1.5 and is present in an amount of from about 1.7% to about 8.6% by weight. ### Claim 27 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the base is a strong base and is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 9.5% by weight of the separating composition. ### Claim 28 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, wherein the composition is essentially free of organic solvent. ### Claim 29 (depends on 16) The separating composition of claim 16, further comprising hydrocarbon-containing material wherein the ratio of the separating composition to the hydrocarbon-containing materials is from about 2:3 to about 3:2. ### Claim 30 A water-based separating composition for separating hydrocarbons from hydrocarbon-containing material, said separating composition comprising: at least about 71% by weight water; from about 0.1% to about 4% by weight of a hydrotropic agent; and from about 0.25% to about 4.5% by weight of a dispersant having flocculating characteristics; from about 0.001% to about 2.5% by weight of a wetting agent; from about 1.7% to about 8.6% by weight of at least one acid; and from about 2% to about 9.5% by weight of at least one base; wherein the separating composition is utilized at a pH of about 7 to about 8.5, the separating composition is essentially free of organic solvent and the hydrotropic agent and the dispersant having flocculating characteristics are different. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the separating composition has a pH of from about 7.6 to about 8.5. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the composition comprises at least about 89% by weight water. ### Claim 33 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the wetting agent comprises an alkoxylated alcohol surfactant. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the wetting agent comprises 2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-6-dodecyn-5,8-diol ethoxylate. ### Claim 35 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises a phosphorylated nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 36 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the hydrotropic agent comprises an aromatic phosphate ester having the formula: wherein R1 is a C1-C5 linear or branched alkyl group and n=1 to 8. ### Claim 37 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises a phosphate salt. ### Claim 38 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the dispersant having flocculating characteristics comprises one or more of sodium acid pyrophosphate and tetrapotassium pyrophosphate. ### Claim 39 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the acid is a heavy acid. ### Claim 40 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the acid has a specific gravity of greater than about 1.5 ### Claim 41 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, wherein the base is a strong base. ### Claim 42 (depends on 30) The separating composition of claim 30, further comprising hydrocarbon-containing material wherein the ratio of the separating composition to the hydrocarbon-containing materials is from about 2:3 to about 3:2.