# US 9,518,184 B2 · Process for preparing blends of bitumen having known stability properties > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,184 B2 - Document ID: US9518184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/596,864 - Filed: 2015-01-14 - Published: 2015-05-07 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-12 - Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Applicants: Baker Hughes Incorporated - Inventors: Joseph L. Stark; Ben Morgan; Jennifer D. Draper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518184B2 ## CPC - C08L 95/00: Compositions of bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch - G01N 31/162: {Determining the equivalent point by means of a discontinuity} - C08L 2205/02: containing two or more polymers of the same C08L -group - C08L 2555/10: Design or test methods for bitumen or asphalt mixtures, e.g. series of measures, procedures or tests to obtain a bitumen or asphalt mixture having preset defined properties, general or international test methods, procedures or standards - C08L 2555/34: Recycled or waste materials, e.g. reclaimed bitumen, asphalt, roads or pathways, recycled roof coverings or shingles, recycled aggregate, recycled tires, crumb rubber, glass or cullet, fly or fuel ash, or slag - C08L 2555/80: Macromolecular constituents - G01N 21/25: Colour; Spectral properties, i.e. comparison of effect of material on the light at two or more different wavelengths or wavelength bands - C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Bitumen may be prepared by obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample, and modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample. The inflection point value may correlate to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent. The mixed bitumen product stream may have or include at least two bitumen feed streams. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of preparing bitumen comprising: obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams; wherein the inflection point value correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent; wherein the obtaining the inflection point value occurred by: adding a non-solvent to the mixed bitumen product stream sample; transmitting near IR laser light through the mixed bitumen product stream sample; determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added; and modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream is selected from the group consisting of: altering the ratio of the at least two bitumen feed streams within the mixed bitumen product stream; introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream; and combinations thereof: and giving a result selected from the group consisting of: a stable mixed bitumen product stream; the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream; and both; where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of: at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen; and at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream occurs when the ratio is less than about 1.2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream occurs by introducing the at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream; and wherein the method further comprises analyzing the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream comprising the at least one stabilizing additive. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one stabilizing additive is prepared from a formulation including a first component selected from the group consisting of (alkoxylated)-(di or tri)-alkyl phenol-aldehyde (amine) resins;α-Olefin-maleic anhydride co-polymers and grafted polymers including half ester/amide and full ester/amide derivatives; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one stabilizing additive is prepared from a formulation including a second component selected from the group consisting of polyamines, amidoamines, imidazolines, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one stabilizing additive is introduced at a concentration ranging from about 0.1 to about 10 wt % based on the total mixed bitumen product stream. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the method occurs within a refinery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the two bitumen feed streams is selected from the group consisting of a virgin bitumen stream, a recycled bitumen stream, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the recycled bitumen stream is selected from the group consisting of recycled asphalt recovered from roads or parking lots, recycled roofing shingles, recycled roofing membranes, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the recycled bitumen stream does not comprise fillers and gravel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the modified mixed bitumen feed stream is less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising transporting the modified mixed bitumen product stream. ### Claim 13 A method of preparing bitumen comprising: obtaining an inflection point value for a mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams; wherein the inflection point value correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of added non-solvent; wherein the obtaining the inflection point value occurred by: adding a non-solvent to the mixed bitumen product stream sample; transmitting near IR laser light through the mixed bitumen product stream sample; determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added; and introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample; giving a result selected from the group consisting of: a stable mixed bitumen product stream; the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream; and both; where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of: at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen; and at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream occurs when the ratio is less than about 1.2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising altering the ratio of the at least two bitumen feed streams to prepare the mixed bitumen product stream. ### Claim 16 A method of preparing bitumen comprising: obtaining an equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample comprising at least two bitumen feed streams; analyzing the stability of the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream comprising: adding a non-solvent to the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample; transmitting near IR laser light through the equilibrated mixed bitumen product stream sample; determining an inflection point value that correlates to the stability of the mixed bitumen product stream based on the amount of non-solvent added; and modifying the mixed bitumen product stream when the inflection point value occurs at a ratio of less than about 2 mL of added non-solvent per 1 gram of the mixed bitumen product stream sample wherein the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream is selected from the group consisting of: altering the ratio of the at least two bitumen feed streams within the mixed bitumen product stream; introducing at least one stabilizing additive to the mixed bitumen product stream; and combinations thereof: and giving a result selected from the group consisting of: a stable mixed bitumen product stream; the mixed bitumen product stream having a viscosity less than an otherwise identical mixed bitumen feed stream absent the modifying the mixed bitumen product stream; and both; where the at least two bitumen feed streams are selected from the group consisting of: at least two bitumen feed streams where both bitumen feed streams comprises bitumen; and at least one bitumen feed stream comprising bitumen and at least one heavy hydrocarbon. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one stabilizing additive is prepared from a formulation including a first component selected from the group consisting of (alkoxylated)-(di or tri)-alkyl phenol-aldehyde (amine) resins; α-Olefin-maleic anhydride co-polymers and grafted polymers including half ester/amide and full ester/amide derivatives; and combinations thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one stabilizing additive is prepared from a formulation including a second component which is a synergist and selected from the group consisting of polyamines, amidoamines, imidazolines, and combinations thereof.