AGENT FOR LIQUEFYING CRUDE OIL AND/OR FOR REMOVING OIL RESIDUES

Abstract

The invention relates to a composition comprising a fatty acid-methyl ester component and an alcohol component, the composition being liquid at normal pressure at 20° C. and being immiscible with water. The invention further relates to a mixture containing crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues and the aforementioned composition. The invention also relates to a method for reducing the viscosity of crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues. The invention finally relates to a method for cleaning a surface from crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues.

Claims

1. Composition comprising a fatty acid methyl ester component, an alcohol component, and lauric acid, wherein the composition is liquid at normal pressure at 20° C., a proportion of the fatty acid methyl ester component is ≥ 65 to 95% by weight, preferably ≥ 70 to ≤ 90% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition, a proportion of the alcohol components is ≥ 5 to ≤ 35% by weight based on the total weight of the composition and the composition is free of surfactants.

2. Composition according to claim claim 1, wherein a the proportion of the alcohol component is ≥ 7 to ≤ 28% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

3. Composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid methyl ester component exclusively comprises methyl esters of fatty acids of a length between 10 and 24 carbon atoms, preferably between 10 and 18 carbon atoms in a linear arrangement.

4. Composition according to claim 1, wherein the alcohol component comprises one or more monovalent C.sub.2 to C.sub.4 alcohols.

5. Composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises lauric acid liquefier component.

6. Composition according to claim 5, wherein the composition comprises the liquefier component in a proportion of ≤ 4% by weight, preferably ≤ 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

7. Composition according to claim 6, wherein the composition comprises preferably 0.0015% by weight camphor, based on the total weight of the composition.

8. Composition according to claim 7, wherein the composition is miscible with crude oil in any ratio.

9. (canceled)

10. Mixture comprising crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues and a composition according to claim 1.

11. Mixture according to claim 10, wherein a proportion of the composition is 2 - 10% by weight, based on the weight of crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues.

12. Method for reducing the viscosity of crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues comprising the steps of providing crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues; providing a composition according to claim 1; and bringing the composition into contact with the crude oil, the oil sludge and/or the oil residues.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the composition has a temperature between -10 - 280° C. when brought into contact.

14. Method for cleaning a surface from crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues, comprising the steps of a) carrying out the method for reducing the viscosity of crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues according to claim 12 at the surface; b) causing the composition to act on the crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues present on the surface, so that a liquid product is formed; c) removing the liquid product from the surface; and d) optionally cleaning the surface with water and/or reapplying the composition onto the surface.

15. Method according to claim 12, wherein the surface is an inner surface of an oil tank, wherein step a) comprises introducing the composition into the oil tank, step c) comprises pumping the liquid product out of the oil tank, and step d) comprises reapplying the composition onto the inner surface of the oil tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] In the following, the invention is described further in detail based on a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

[0070] In the drawings:

[0071] FIG. 1 shows viscosity measurements of mixtures of crude oil and a composition in different proportions, according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0072] FIG. 2 shows a viscosity measurement of a mixture of crude oil and a composition according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention, and for comparison a viscosity measurement of the crude oil without composition; and

[0073] FIG. 3 shows a surface before, during and after cleaning with a composition according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0074] FIG. 1 shows the decrease in viscosity of German crude oil by addition of the composition according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. The composition of the first exemplary embodiment is hereinafter referred to as A1111. A1111 has the following composition:

TABLE-US-00001 Components Weight proportion based on total weight of the composition Fatty acid methyl ester component Mixture of a) hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, b) octadecanoic acid methyl ester, c) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, d) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester and e) 9,12,15-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester 90% Alcohol component: iso-propanol 9.9985% Camphor 0.0015%

[0075] Several crude oil samples of German crude oil were mixed with different amounts of the composition A1111. The mixtures were each heated to 59.5° C. and stirred at 59.5° C. for 5 minutes. Subsequently, the dynamic viscosity was determined according to EN ISO 3219. The shear rate was respectively 200 s.sup.-1 and the measuring time was 30 minutes at a measuring temperature of 59.5° C. FIG. 1 shows the viscosity obtained for the mixtures of German crude oil, with the composition A1111 at 59.5° C. with different weight proportions of the composition in the mixture, based on the weight of the crude oil sample. The highest viscosity is shown for the crude oil samples “ÖI_1” and “ÖI_2”, to which no A1111 was added. Significantly lower viscosities were found with proportions of 5 to 7% of A1111. A mixture of crude oil and A1111 with a proportion 20% by weight of A1111, based on the weight of the crude oil, was taken as a reference. The measurements show that a mixture of crude oil and A1111 with more than 7% addition of A1111, based on the weight of the crude oil, does not significantly further reduce the viscosity.

[0076] FIG. 2a) and 2b) show viscosity measurements of crude oil once without addition of a composition (FIG. 2a) and once with the addition of the composition according to a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. The composition of the second preferred exemplary embodiment will be referred to in the following as LIQUI. LIQUI has the following composition:

TABLE-US-00002 Components Weight proportion based on total weight of the composition Fatty acid methyl ester component Mixture of a) hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, b) octadecanoic acid methyl ester, c) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, d) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester and e) 9,12,15-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester 70% Alcohol component: Mixture of ethanol and iso-propanol 27.9985% Camphor 0.0015% Liquefier component: Lauric acid 2%

[0077] The dynamic viscosity of the crude oil sample was determined in accordance with EN ISO 3219, wherein the results are shown in FIG. 2a). LIQUI was also added to the crude oil sample in a proportion of 7.5% by weight, based on the mixture of crude oil and LIQUI, and the dynamic viscosity was determined in accordance with the above-mentioned rule (FIG. 2b). The dynamic viscosity of the mixture of crude oil and LIQUI is significantly lower. For example, the dynamic viscosity at 60° C. for the crude oil sample without LIQUI is 31.1 mPas and for the mixture of crude oil and LIQUI 4.9 mPas. FIG. 3 shows a cleaning of three different oil contaminations on steel sheet with the use of a composition according to a third preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0078] The composition of the third preferred exemplary embodiment is hereinafter referred to as RH-12.01-RCB. RH-12.01-RCB has the following composition:

TABLE-US-00003 Components Weight proportion based on total weight of the composition Fatty acid methyl ester component Mixture of a) hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, b) octadecanoic acid methyl ester, c) 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, d) 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester and e) 9,12,15-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester 70% Alcohol component: Mixture of ethanol and iso-propanol 27.9985% Camphor 0.0015% Liquefier component: 2% Ethanolamine

[0079] FIG. 3 shows the images before cleaning (FIG. 3 a) and after cleaning (FIG. 3 c). The almost quantitative removal of the oil contamination can be seen in all three cases. The amount of non-removable residues is only between 3% and 8% of the total oil contamination, depending on the consistency of the oil contamination.

[0080] The oil contaminations in FIG. 3 are the following oil contaminations: [0081] German oil slag from a large refinery mixed with Indian oil sludge (I), [0082] highly paraffinic oil sludge from India (II), and [0083] German crude oil from Wietze (III).

[0084] All oil contaminations were applied to a large steel sheet with a 4 cm high rim and dried lying down in the sun for 3 weeks. Cleaning was then carried out on the upright standing sheet.

[0085] FIG. 3a shows from left to right the “Mixed Waste” oil slag 8 mm thick (I), then the “Sludge” oil sludge 5 mm thick (II) and on the right the dried crude oil about 2.5 mm thick (III). Using a scant liter of RH-12.01-RCB at 2.8 bar pressure in 3 minutes, the sludge and slag layer was broken up and the oil surface was cleaned. An exposure time of 7 minutes was left after spraying. FIG. 3 c shows the result of the treatment.

[0086] Factors such as quantity and exposure time are not as important for surface cleaning as they are for oil liquefaction in oil tanks, ship tanks and freight car tanks. Here hard sludge sediments can be tackled with exposure times or high nozzle pressure. Although the composition according to the preferred exemplary embodiment is able to withstand a high bar pressure, in reality far less pressure is required than with water, since the composition does not decisively clean by the pressure. Tank walls of older date are spared, since cleaning can also be carried out under 90 bar. Usually the lowest setting pressures are between 90 and 180 bar.

[0087] Other areas of application are as follows:

[0088] Wherever chemicals or water were previously used, the composition of the invention can be used for cleaning. In particular, this relates to tank flushing, railroad tanks, ship tanks, which require crude oil cleaning.

[0089] In surface cleaning, the following applications are conceivable: cleaning of tools, such as ring wrenches or open-jaw wrenches, workshop cleaning of dirty floors, tile walls, hand wash basins, work benches, soot soiled surfaces and buckets, oil pans, plastic containers or motorcycle chains. The cleaning of engines or the engine compartment (outside) is possible. If necessary, it is important to rinse the surfaces with water or steam cleaner.

[0090] Surfaces contaminated with gasoline (e.g. tank columns) can be cleaned well. It is preferable to rinse with water after cleaning. In the case of gasoline spills or oil spills, it is advisable to first add a little amount of the composition, allow to act briefly and then sprinkle with absorbent material. An inexpensive good solution is e.g. sawdust.

[0091] After cleaning oily palms, it is advisable to rinse well with water and to apply hand cream.

[0092] Copper and brass parts are preferably rinsed with water after application of the composition.

[0093] The composition can be used without and with high-pressure cleaner, without further chemicals or water in order to clean tools and inner ship hulls. It was found that not only the ship walls became clean, but also the up to 2 m layer (deposited, hardened oil sediment) was liquefied and became pumpable again.

[0094] In the following a method for cleaning a surface from crude oil, oil sludge and/or oil residues according to a preferred embodiment is described with reference to tank cleaning.

[0095] The composition according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention is used directly as a cleaning agent in the storage tanks by means of the high-pressure spraying systems already permanently installed at the tank or with industrial high-pressure cleaners. It already starts to develop its liquefying properties when sprayed onto the walls. It is circulated with the highly viscous oil in a circulation process and sprayed onto the surfaces until the walls of the tanks have been cleaned. Subsequently the composition with the liquefied oil sludge is pumped out of the tank after several cleaning processes. Once the walls of the tank have been cleaned, the pumping process can be initiated by means of a suction float nozzle pump as soon as the liquefying effect with respect to the amount of sludge has developed. The mixture is pumped into and out of the tank via the recirculation process. This in turn means that the added composition has transformed the sludge into a pumpable product. This circulation continues until all sludge layers have been liquefied.

[0096] The use of agitators can help speed up the liquefaction process. Especially after cleaning the tank walls and prior to cleaning the bottom, depending on the tank type, agitators can be installed. The use of these devices significantly accelerates the process. After the product has been liquefied, the entire pumpable liquid can be returned to the refinery for refining. Only the substances that cannot be pumped through pipelines must be disposed of. This is the basis for the economic value of this process.

[0097] A particularly preferred composition of the present invention has the following physical and chemical properties.

TABLE-US-00004 Physical state at 20° C. liquid Colour colorless to yellow Odor characteristic pH value 5-9 Boiling point range 302.5° C. - 570° C. (ASTM 7169) Melting range -34 - -25° C. Flash point 17 - 37° C. (ISO 13736:2008) Auto-ignition temperature 255-330° C. (DIN 51794) Vapor pressure, 20° C. 2 - 6 hPa (DIN EN 16016-1) Relative density at 20° C. 0.860 to 0.895 g/ml (DIN EN ISO 12185) Water solubility (g/l) insoluble Kinematic viscosity at 40° C. 3.50 to 5.00 mm.sup.2/s Dynamic viscosity at 20° C. 3.00 to 4.00 mPas Mixture of hexadecanoic acid methyl ester octadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, 9,12,15-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, ethanol, n-propanol iso-propanol, tert-butanol, lauric acid, ethanolamine

[0098] The embodiments described are merely examples which can be modified and/or supplemented in a variety of ways within the scope of the claims. Each feature described for a particular exemplary embodiment may be used independently or in combination with other features in any other exemplary embodiment. Any feature that has been described for an exemplary embodiment of a particular category can also be used in a corresponding manner in an exemplary embodiment of another category.