Composition and method for isolation of paraffinic hydrocarbons
A method and composition for isolating a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer from a sludge comprising a mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons, water, and solids are provided. The method comprises providing a paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition comprising isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, a surfactant, and a solvent; contacting the sludge with the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition; and allowing the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition to separate the sludge into a three phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids.
1. A method of isolating a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer from a sludge comprising a mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons, water, and solids, the method comprising:
(A) providing a paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition comprising isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, a surfactant, and a solvent, wherein the surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a zwitterionic surfactant;
(B) contacting the sludge with the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition; and
(C) allowing the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition to separate the sludge into a three-phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a carboxylate.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an ethoxylate.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the zwitterionic surfactant comprises a hydroxysultaine.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises aliphatic hydrocarbons.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising contacting the sludge with methylmorpholine-N-oxide in addition to the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition.
7. A method of isolating a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer from a sludge comprising a mixture of paraffinic hydrocarbons, water, and solids, the method comprising:
(A) providing a paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition comprising isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, a surfactant, and a solvent, wherein the surfactant comprises an anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, and a zwitterionic surfactant;
(B) providing a cutter stock;
(C) contacting the sludge with the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition and the cutter stock; and
(D) allowing the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition and the cutter stock to separate the sludge into a three-phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the anionic surfactant comprises a carboxylate.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the nonionic surfactant comprises an ethoxylate.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the zwitterionic surfactant comprises a hydroxysultaine.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the solvent comprises aliphatic hydrocarbons.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the cutter stock comprises a light sweet oil with an API gravity of 30 or greater, a light cycle oil, diesel, light sweet crude oil, or combinations thereof.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the cutter stock is added to the sludge in a sludge:cutter:water ratio of about 4:2:1, wherein the water represents the total water in the a tank including water emulsified with the sludge and any added water that may not be emulsified with the sludge.
14. The method of claim 7 , further comprising contacting the sludge with methylmorpholine-N-oxide in addition to the paraffinic hydrocarbon isolation composition and the cutter stock.