A method of screening solvents for the solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method includes dissolving petroleum hydrocarbons in a selected solvent to form a first solution, adding an ionic liquid to the first solution and blending to form a second solution and measuring absorbance of the second solution using spectroscopic techniques. The solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons in the solvent is then determined based on the difference between the measured absorbance of the first and second solution. A system for screening solvents for the solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons is also disclosed. The system can be used in removal of wax deposition in refinery process equipment, process flow lines, during piping operations, up-gradation of wax, prevention of clogging of pipelines, processing of sludge or for removing sludge from petroleum tank installations and enhancing the crude oil flow.

A method of screening solvents for the solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method includes dissolving petroleum hydrocarbons in a selected solvent to form a first solution, adding an ionic liquid to the first solution and blending to form a second solution and measuring absorbance of the second solution using spectroscopic techniques. The solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons in the solvent is then determined based on the difference between the measured absorbance of the first and second solution. A system for screening solvents for the solubilization of petroleum hydrocarbons is also disclosed. The system can be used in removal of wax deposition in refinery process equipment, process flow lines, during piping operations, up-gradation of wax, prevention of clogging of pipelines, processing of sludge or for removing sludge from petroleum tank installations and enhancing the crude oil flow.

The present invention relates to a metal compound of calixarene not containing sulfur and dispersible in oil, which can be partially salified, or neutral, or basic or overbased, said calixarene having general formula (I) in which: a) R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from hydrogen, or a group containing carbon and hydrogen, or a group containing in addition to carbon and hydrogen also heteroatoms, provided that said heteroatoms are not sulfur; b) one of the two substituents R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 is hydrogen, while the other may be selected from hydrogen, or a linear or branched alkyl with a number of carbon atoms between 1 and 6, preferably methyl, ethyl, 1-propyl, 2-propyl, n-butyl, sec-butyl, more preferably methyl or ethyl; c) n is the number of units of the calixarene ring and is comprised in the range between 4 and 16, preferably between 5 and 12; said calixarene being characterized in that in at least one of the n units of the calixarene ring, at least one of the substituents R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 contains at least one acid group of carboxylic type available for the reaction with a metal base, with the proviso that said acid group of carboxylic type is not contained in a unit of the calixarene ring derived from salicylic acid. ##STR00001##

An implantable electrode arrangement for a cochlear implant system is described. An electrode lead contains a lead structure control element configured to control a lead shape of the electrode lead between an insertion state wherein the electrode lead within a mastoid tunnel has a longitudinal lead axis lying entirely along the tunnel axis, and a post-insertion state wherein a facial recess portion of the electrode lead fitting within a limited diameter portion of the mastoid tunnel associated with a facial recess portion of the mastoid bone has a longitudinal lead axis along the tunnel axis, and a storage portion of the electrode lead fitting within an enlarged diameter portion of the mastoid tunnel lateral to the facial recess portion has a longitudinal lead axis coiled in a helical shape radially around the tunnel axis.

Improved liquid detergent concentrate compositions which are phosphorus free and utilize an acrylic copolymer to provide improved stability while maintaining viscosity are provided. Methods of using the same to wash textiles are also provided. The improved liquid detergent composition may be provided in the form of the concentrated emulsion or a use solution; and where the concentrated emulsion can be a water-in-oil emulsion or oil-in-water emulsion dependent on the amounts of water and oil in the emulsion.

The present invention relates to wash oil for use as an antifouling agent in gas compressors, in particular in cracked gas compressors, including at least one compound according to formulae (II) ##STR00001## with the moieties R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are selected from a group of linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkyl, C.sub.3-C.sub.10-cycloalkyl and linear or branched C.sub.1-C.sub.10-alkyl substituted C.sub.3-C.sub.10-cycloalkyl and C.sub.6-C.sub.12 aryl and C.sub.1-C.sub.10-alkyl substituted C.sub.6-C.sub.12 aryl. The moieties can be interrupted by oxygen or nitrogen. The moieties can be functionalised with hydroxyl groups or amino groups. The moieties can be the same or different. The invention relates also to the use of such wash oil as anti-fouling agent.

A laundry care composition including (i) from 2 to 70 wt % of a surfactant; and (ii) from 0.0001 to 20.0 wt % of a leuco polymer that includes a polyethylenimine and at least one leuco moiety covalently bound to the polyethylenimine. The polyethylenimine comprises three or more amine nitrogen atoms and 1 mol. % or more of amine hydrogen atoms in the polyethylenimine are replaced with a moiety selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxypropyl, 1-hydroxypropane-2-yl, and polyalkoxy groups. Methods of making the leuco polymer and methods of treating textiles with such laundry care compositions.

A leuco polymer comprising a polyethylenimine and at least one leuco moiety covalently bound to the polyethylenimine, wherein the polyethylenimine comprises three or more amine nitrogen atoms and 1 mol. % or more of amine hydrogen atoms in the polyethylenimine are replaced with a moiety selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxypropyl, 1-hydroxypropane-2-yl, and polyalkoxy groups. Methods of making the leuco polymer, laundry care compositions comprising the leuco polymer and methods of treating textiles with such laundry care compositions.

A laundry care composition including (i) from 2 to 70 wt % of a surfactant; and (ii) from 0.0001 to 20.0 wt % of a leuco polymer including an alkoxylated polyethyleneimine covalently bound to a leuco moiety. At least a first portion of nitrogen atoms of the alkoxylated polyethyleneimine have covalently bound thereto a leuco moiety. At least a second portion of nitrogen atoms of the alkoxylated polyethyleneimine have covalently bound thereto a moiety selected from the group consisting of oxyalkylene moieties, polyoxyalkylene moieties, and mixtures thereof; and at least a third portion of nitrogen atoms of the alkoxylated polyethyleneimine have covalently bound thereto a moiety selected from the group consisting of an alkylene chain, an alkylene chain having covalently bound thereto a phenyl or naphthyl group, and mixtures thereof. Methods of making the leuco polymer and methods of treating textiles with such laundry care compositions.

A method of obtaining a laundry care composition, the method comprising the steps of (a) reacting a reactive leuco compound with a polymer to form a leuco polymer and (b) mixing the leuco polymer with at least one laundry care ingredient. The reactive leuco compound comprises at least one leuco moiety and at least one nucleophilic group. The polymer comprises at least one group capable of reacting with said nucleophilic group. The leuco moiety has a maximum molar extinction coefficient at a wavelength in the range 400 to 750 nm of less than 1000 M.sup.1 cm.sup.1.