Composition and process for recovery of spilled hydrocarbons from aqueous environments
View Patent ↗A process and polymer foam composition for removing hydrocarbon material from wanted material containing water by bringing an isocyanate-containing prepolymer and a gaseous expansion agent, with or without a diluent and/or cell control agent, into contact with the materials, allowing the composition to react with the water to form a flexible foam and removing the polymer foam obtained from the wanted material.
1. A process for removing hydrocarbon material from wanted material comprising the steps of:
obtaining a prepolymer, said prepolymer having an NCO value of 2-10% by weight and being the reaction product obtained by reacting an excessive amount of polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate comprising at least 25% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a liquid variant thereof with a polyether polyol having an average nominal hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 4, a number average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 500 to 3000, and an oxyethylene content of at least 50% by weight,
blending a compressed gas with said prepolymer to create a modified prepolymer, said compressed gas being a propellant,
mixing said modified prepolymer with water in a static mixer, characterized in that the modified prepolymer is mixed with 1-100 parts by weight of the water per part weight of the modified prepolymer, said compressed gas providing necessary turbulence in said static mixer to achieve a satisfactory mix,
bringing the mixed modified prepolymer and water composition into contact with the materials within 10 seconds of mixing;
allowing the prepolymer to react with at least part of the water to form a flexible foam; and
removing the foam obtained from the wanted material.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein a diluent is further blended with the prepolymer to reduce viscosity.
3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the diluent is at least a partially water soluble, isocyanate-compatible diluent.
4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the diluent is propylene carbonate, glycol ether DE acetate, glycol ether EM acetate, dimethyl methyl phosphonate, tri(2-chloroethyl)phosphate, tri(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate or triethylphosphate.
5. The process of claim 2 , wherein up to 70 parts by weight of the combined compressed gas and diluent are blended with the prepolymer.
6. The process of claim 5 , wherein said parts by weight of the combined compressed gas and diluent are comprised of 8 to 30 parts compressed gas and 15 to 40 parts diluent.
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein a cell control agent is further blended with the prepolymer to enhance the polymer cell structure.
8. The process of claim 2 , wherein a cell control agent is further blended with the prepolymer to enhance the polymer cell structure.
9. The process of claim 8 , wherein up to 70 parts by weight of the combined compressed gas, diluent and cell control agent are blended with the prepolymer.
10. The process of claim 9 , wherein said parts by weight of the combined blowing agent, diluent and cell control agent are comprised of 8 to 30 parts blowing agent, 15 to 40 parts diluent and 1 to 2 parts cell control agent.
11. A polymer foam composition adapted for spraying on a hydrocarbon material and a wanted material in the presence of water to remove the hydrocarbon material from the wanted material, the polymer foam composition comprising:
a prepolymer having an NCO value of 2-10% by weight and being the reaction product obtained by reacting an excessive amount of polymethylene polyphenylene polyisocyanate comprising at least 25% by weight of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate or a liquid variant thereof with a polyether polyol having an average nominal hydroxyl functionality of from 2 to 4, a number average hydroxyl equivalent weight of from 500 to 3000, and an oxyethylene content of at least 50% by weight; and
modifying said prepolymer with a blowing agent.
12. The polymer foam composition of claim 11 , further modifying said prepolymer with a diluent.
13. The polymer foam composition of claim 12 , wherein the diluent is at least a partially water soluble, isocyanate-compatible diluent.
14. The polymer foam composition of claim 12 , wherein the diluent is propylene carbonate, glycol ether DE acetate, glycol ether EM acetate, dimethyl methyl phosphonate, tri(2-chloroethyl)phosphate, tri(2-chloroisopropyl)phosphate or triethylphosphate.
15. The prepolymer foam composition of claim 12 , wherein said modified prepolymer includes up to 70 parts by weight of the combined blowing agent and diluent.
16. The prepolymer foam composition of claim 15 , wherein said parts by weight of the combined blowing agent and diluent are comprised of 8 to 30 parts blowing agent and 15 to 40 parts diluent.
17. The polymer foam composition of claim 11 , further modifying said prepolymer with a cell control agent.
18. The polymer foam composition of claim 12 , further modifying said prepolymer with a cell control agent.
19. The polymer foam composition of claim 18 , wherein said modified prepolymer includes up to 70 parts by weight of the combined blowing agent, diluent and cell control agent.
20. The prepolymer foam composition of claim 19 , wherein said parts by weight of the combined blowing agent, diluent and cell control agent are comprised of 8 to 30 parts blowing agent, 15 to 40 parts diluent and 1 to 2 parts cell control agent.