US4465801A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Interfacial viscosification of aqueous system utilizing sulfonated ionomers
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
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Filing: 1982-05-03
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Granted: 1984-08-14
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Expires: 2002-05-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a process for the viscosification of an aqueous liquid which includes the steps of forming a solvent system of an organic liquid or oil and a polar cosolvent, the polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of the solvent system, a viscosity of the solvent system being less than about 100 cps; dissolving a neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of the neutralized sulfonated polymer in the solution being about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent, a viscosity of the solution being less than about 200 cps; and admixing or contacting said solution with about 5 to about 500 volume percent water, the water being immiscible with the organic liquid and the polar cosolvent and neutralized sulfonated polymer transferring from the organic liquid to the water phase, thereby causing the water phase to thicken.
Inventors
- 👤 Dennis G. Peiffer
- 👤 Robert D. Lundberg
- 👤 Thad O. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:52
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J3/00; C08J3/02; C08J3/03; C08J3/07; B; B01; B01J; B01J13/00; B01J13/0052; C08J2357/00; C08J2357/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A process for forming a thickened aqueous fluid having a viscosity of at least about 50 cps which consisting essentially the steps of: (a) forming a solvent system of an organic liquid and a polar cosolvent, said polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of said solvent system, a viscosity of said solvent system being less than about 100 cps; (b) dissolving a water insoluble, unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polymer in said solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of said unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polymer in said solution being about 0.01 to less than 0.4 weight percent, a viscosity of said solution being less than about 200 cps; and (c) adding about 5 to about 500 volume percent water to said solution, said water being immiscible with said solution, with said polar cosolvent and said water insoluble, neutralized sulfonated polymer transferring from said organic liquid to said water causing the viscosity of said water to increase to at least 50 cps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for forming a thickened aqueous fluid having a viscosity of at least about 50 cps which consisting essentially the steps of: (a) forming a solvent system of an organic liquid and a polar cosolvent, said polar cosolvent being less than about 15 weight percent of said solvent system, a viscosity of said solvent system being less than about 100 cps; (b) dissolving a water insoluble, unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polymer in said solvent system to form a solution, a concentration of said unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polymer in said solution being about 0.01 to less than 0.4 weight percent, a viscosity of said solution being less than about 200 cps; and (c) adding about 5 to about 500 volume percent water to said solution, said water being immiscible with said solution, with said polar cosolvent and said water insoluble, neutralized sulfonated polymer transferring from said organic liquid to said water causing the viscosity of said water to increase to at least 50 cps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 further including a means for removing said organic liquid from said aqueous fluid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein said unneutralized or neutralized sulfonated polymer has about 10 (free acid) to about 100 (10.4 mole % sulfonation) meq. of sulfonate groups groups per 100 grams of polymer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 3 wherein said SO 3 H are neutralized within an ammonium or metal counterion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said metal counterion is selected from the group including antimony, tin, lead or Groups IA, IIA, IB or IIB of the Periodic Table of Elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 4 wherein said SO 3 H groups are at least 90 mole percent neutralized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer is formed from an elastomeric polymer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 7 wherein said elastomeric polymer is selected from the group including EPDM terpolymer or Butyl rubber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer is formed from a thermoplastic.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein said thermoplastic is selected from the group including polystyrene, t-butyl styrene, ethylene copolymers, propylene copolymers, or styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said polar cosolvent has a greater polarity than said organic liquid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said polar cosolvent is selected from the group including aliphatic alcohols, aliphatic amines, di- or trifunctional aliphatic alcohols, water miscible amides, acetamides, phosphates, or lactones and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said polar cosolvent is selected from the group including methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said polar cosolvent has a solubility parameter of at least about 10 and is water miscible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is selected from the group including aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydrocarbons, cyclic aliphatic ethers, aliphatic ethers or organic aliphatic esters and mixtures thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is selected from the group including aliphatic hydrocarbons or aromatic hydrocarbons.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein said organic liquid is selected from the group including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, xylene or styrene and mixtures thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 17 wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer is formed from polystyrene.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
9 words
The product prepared by the process of claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-08-14 | 1988-02-13 | 1988-08-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-14 | 1992-02-13 | 1992-08-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-14 | 1996-02-13 | 1996-08-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |