Palox Limited

Other

Formatex (offshore) S.a.l.

David William Martin

Günter Oetter

Dietmar Posselt

Guenter Oetter

Matthias Kiefer

The formation in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of ice particles having a weight average particle size greater than 1 &#x3bc;m when said liquid hydrocarbon fuel is cooled to temperatures in the range of from 0 to &#x2212;50&#xb0; C. can be reduced or eliminated by use of at least one surfactant that is capable of dispersing water in said liquid hydrocarbon fuel to provide a stable clear water-in-oil microemulsion wherein the droplet size of the dispersed water phase is no greater than 0.25 &#x3bc;m.

Protection of liquid fuels

A liquid concentrate comprising essentially:

A method for determining the suitability for use in an engine of a fuel e.g. a jet fuel that may contain particulate contaminants, such as organic and/or inorganic particulates, is disclosed. The method can be used to distinguish a known organic particulate contaminant from inorganic particulate contaminants in the fuel. A composition suitable for use in the method is also disclosed.

Method of determining the suitability of a fuel for use in an engine and a composition for use in such a method

One or more stable, clear, water-in-fuel microemulsion-forming surfactants may be used in a liquid fuel or oil which is immiscible with water to:

Uses of emulsifying agents

In one aspect, the present invention provides a water-in-oil emulsion comprising from about 5 to about 40 wt % aqueous phase and from about 95 to about 60 wt % non-aqueous phase, said aqueous phase being dispersed in said non-aqueous phase in the form of droplets having an average droplet size no greater than about 0.1 &#x3bc;m, said emulsion comprising: at least 60 wt % of an oil selected from fuel oils, lubricating oils and mixtures thereof, from about 1 to about 30 wt % of emulsifying agents, and the balance to 100 wt % water, wherein said emulsifying agents include a fatty (C-C)-amido-(C-C)alkyl betaine, is useful as a fuel, coolant or lubricant. In another aspect the present invention provides one or more stable, clear, water-in-fuel microemulsion-forming surfactants may be used in a liquid fuel or oil which is immiscible with water to: a) scavenge free-water which exists in or is introduced into the liquid fuel or oil thereby to render or retain the liquid fuel or oil in a usable state; and/or b) inhibit the growth of aquatic micro-organisms in the liquid fuel or oil when the fuel or oil becomes contaminated with free-water thereby to retain the liquid fuel or oil in a usable state.

Water-in-oil emulsions, methods and uses of emulsifying agents

A stable, clear water-in-oil emulsion consisting of from about 5 to about 40 wt % aqueous phase and from about 95 to about 60 wt % non-aqueous phase, said aqueous phase being dispersed in said non-aqueous phase in the form of droplets having an average droplet size no greater than about 0.1 &mgr;m, said emulsion comprising at least 60 wt % of an oil selected from fuel oils, lubricating oils and mixtures thereof, from about 5 to about 30 wt % of an emulsifier composition, and the balance to 100 wt % water, wherein said emulsifier composition consists essentially of i) a mixture of C -C alcohol ethoxylates, each comprising from 2 to 12 EO groups, ii) from 0 to about 25 wt % of an emulsifier selected from polyisobutylsuccinimide, a sorbitan ester and mixtures thereof, and iii) from 0 to about 90 wt % of an amine ethoxylate. The microemulsion is useful as a fuel and/or lubricant/coolant.

Growing community of inventors

Liverpool, United Kingdom

David William Martin