A system and method for torrefying a combination of biomass and biochar colloidal dispersion is provided.

A system and method for torrefying a combination of biomass and biochar colloidal dispersion is provided.

The present disclosure discloses a water-hydrocarbon fuel emulsion comprising: a) 87-99% by weight of at least one hydrocarbon fuel with respect to the emulsion; b) 0.1-10% by weight of water with respect to the emulsion; c) 1-3% by weight of an emulsifying blend with respect to the emulsion; and d) 0.05-1% by weight of at least one inorganic hydride with respect to the emulsion, wherein the emulsifying blend comprises i) at least one oil-soluble nonionic surfactant; ii) at least one water-soluble nonionic surfactant; and iii) at least one ionic surfactant. The present disclosure also reveals a convenient preparation process of the water-hydrocarbon fuel emulsion.

A process for the production of a fractionated product is disclosed, comprising providing a solid hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the material is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% v) of the particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter. The solid hydrocarbonaceous material is combined with an unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material, such as crude oil, in order to create a combined solid-liquid blend; and the combined solid-liquid blend is subjected to fractionation in order to generate one or more fractionation products. Typically the solid hydrocarbonaceous material comprises coal, optionally the coal is ultrafine coal, and suitably the coal is comprised of microfine coal. The coal may be dewatered and deashed prior to combination with unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material. Compositions and products of the process are further provided.

A process for the production of a fractionated product is disclosed, comprising providing a solid hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the material is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% by volume (% v) of the particles are no greater than about 500 μm in diameter. The solid hydrocarbonaceous material is combined with an unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material, such as crude oil, in order to create a combined solid-liquid blend; and the combined solid-liquid blend is subjected to fractionation in order to generate one or more fractionation products. Typically the solid hydrocarbonaceous material comprises coal, optionally the coal is ultrafine coal, and suitably the coal is comprised of microfine coal. The coal may be dewatered and deashed prior to combination with unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material. Compositions and products of the process are further provided.

It has been discovered that contaminants such as metals and/or amines can be transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble C5-C12 polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, ammonium salts thereof, alkali metal salts thereof, and mixtures of all of these. The composition may also optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. The method permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. Resolving the emulsion into the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase occurs in a refinery desalting process using electrostatic coalescence. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom. The polyhydroxy carboxylic acid additionally inhibits metal corrosion of metal pipe or other equipment used in a crude unit.

The coal-derived solid hydrocarbon particles are discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter having a particle size less than about 10 μm that are substantially free of inherent or entrained mineral matter. The particles of have an average particle size in the range from 1 μm to 8 μm. The particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter are milled to a size approximately the same as a size of coal-derived mineral matter inherent in the coal source to release inherent coal-derived mineral matter particles such that the particles of carbonaceous matter and the particles of mineral matter are discrete and separable solid particles. Following separation, less than 1.5 wt. % discrete coal-derived mineral matter particles are associated with the discrete particles of coal-derived carbonaceous matter. Particles of coal-derived solid hydrocarbon matter are blended with a gaseous or liquid hydrocarbon fuel to form a two-phase hydrocarbon fuel feedstock.

There is provided an emulsifier comprising at least one C.sub.8 to C.sub.18 fatty acid diethanolamide, at least one C.sub.12 to C.sub.24 fatty acid, at least one C.sub.6 to C.sub.18 alcohol ethoxylate and optionally at least one sorbitan ester and/or at least one alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether. There is additionally provided emulsions comprising a fuel, water and an emulsifier and methods of producing emulsions.

The formation in a liquid hydrocarbon fuel of ice particles having a weight average particle size greater than 1 μm when said liquid hydrocarbon fuel is cooled to temperatures in the range of from 0 to −50° 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 μm.

A process for the production of a fractionated product is disclosed, comprising providing a solid hydrocarbonaceous material, wherein the material is in particulate form, and wherein at least about 90% by volumic (% v) of the particles arc no greater than about 500 μm in diameter. The solid hydrocarbonaceous material is combined with an unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material, such as crude oil, in order to create a combined solid-liquid blend; and the combined solid-liquid blend is subjected to fractionation in order to generate one or more fractionation products. Typically the solid hydrocarbonaceous material comprises coal, optionally the coal is ultrafine coal, and suitably the coal is comprised of microfine coal. The coal may be dewatered and deashed prior to combination with unrefined liquid hydrocarbonaceous material. Compositions and products of the process are further provided.