US4182689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Treatment of oil-in-water emulsions
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1978-04-07
•
Granted: 1980-01-08
•
Expires: 1998-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Petroleum is separated from an "oil-in-water" emulsion containing water-soluble polymer prior to refining by adding amphoteric metal cations to the emulsion to form a flocculate and then treating the resulting flocculate with a strong base to recover the oil and metal.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Travis Presley
- 👤 Rebecca J. Harrison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:24
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/04; B01D17/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
The process of separating crude oil from "oil-in-water" emulsions containing water-soluble polymer, which process includes the steps of: adding to the emulsion amphoteric metal cations selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, tin and zinc in water-soluble form and treating the resulting flocculate with a strong base.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of separating crude oil from "oil-in-water" emulsions containing water-soluble polymer, which process includes the steps of: adding to the emulsion amphoteric metal cations selected from the group consisting of aluminum, chromium, tin and zinc in water-soluble form and treating the resulting flocculate with a strong base.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the "oil-in-water" emulsion contains up to about 75%, by weight, oil and up to 2000 parts per million, or more, by weight, of water-soluble polymer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the "oil-in-water" emulsion contains from about 1000 parts per million to about 10%, by weight, oil and about 20 to about 500 parts per million, by weight, of water-soluble polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pH of the strong base is at least about 13 or greater.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pH of the strong base is in the range of about 13.2 to about 13.5.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the "oil-in-water" emulsion includes from about 20 to about 20,000 parts per million, by weight, of an anionic surfactant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the amphoteric metal cation is aluminum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process for the separation of crude petroleum from "oil-in-water" emulsions containing about 3%, by weight, oil and including about 500 parts per million, by weight, of a water-soluble polymer which includes the steps of: adding aluminum cation at a concentration of about 50 parts per million, by weight, of the emulsion and then treating the resulting flocculate with a strong base having a pH of about 13.5.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process for the separation of crude petroleum from "oil-in-water" emulsions containing about 3%, by weight, oil and including about 500 parts per million, by weight, of a water-soluble polymer which includes the steps of: adding aluminum cation at a concentration of about 50 parts per million, by weight, of the emulsion and then treating the resulting flocculate with a strong base having a pH of about 13.5.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the water-soluble polymer is polyacrylamide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the source of aluminum cation is Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the strong base is sodium hydroxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2740804A
Cited
DE1642824B1
Cited
US3931005A
Cited
US3741908A
Cited
US4014801A
Cited
US4026794A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-01-07 | 1983-07-09 | 1984-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-01-07 | 1987-07-09 | 1988-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-01-07 | 1991-07-09 | 1992-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |