Biodiesel emulsion for cleaning bituminous coated equipment
Methods of cleaning equipment such as hand tools dirtied by bituminous mixture. A biodiesel emulsion comprising biodiesel, water and emulsifier(s), is applied to the surface of the equipment for a period of time (e.g., at least about 15 minutes) and optionally agitated. The biodiesel emulsion produces cleaning properties comparable to straight biodiesel, at a cost reduction, due to the replacement of biodiesel with water.
1. A method of cleaning equipment dirtied by bituminous material, the method comprising:
forming a stable, water in oil emulsion comprising biodiesel, 1 to 4 wt-% lecithin-based emulsifier based on the biodiesel weight, and water;
exposing the dirtied equipment to the emulsion for a period of time and agitating either the emulsion or the equipment; and
removing clean equipment from the emulsion.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lecithin-based emulsifier comprises biodiesel, a first lecithin-based emulsifier, a second lecithin-based emulsifier, and water.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first lecithin-based emulsifier has a low HLB.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first lecithin-based emulsifier has a 2 to 6 HLB.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second lecithin-based emulsifier has a higher HLB than the first lecithin-based emulsifier.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first lecithin-based emulsifier is present at a level of 1 to 2 wt-% based on the biodiesel weight.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises at least 10 vol-% water.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises at least 20 vol-% water.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the emulsion comprises at least 40 vol-% water.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of forming a stable, water in oil emulsion comprises:
combining the emulsifier with the biodiesel to form an intermediate mixture at a first location, and
combining the water with the intermediate mixture at a second location.
11. A method of cleaning equipment dirtied by bituminous material, the method comprising:
forming a stable, water in oil emulsion comprising biodiesel, 1 to 4 wt-% lecithin-based emulsifier based on the biodiesel weight, and at least 10 volume % water;
immersing the dirtied equipment in the emulsion for a period of time; and
removing clean equipment from the emulsion, the clean equipment being comparably clean to equipment immersed in pure biodiesel.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of immersing the dirtied equipment in the emulsion for a period of time comprises soaking the dirtied equipment in the emulsion for at least 15 minutes.