Hydrotropic composition and its uses
Hydrotropic composition comprising at least one surface active cationic component, which is selected from a group of cholinium, guadinium or tetramethylguadinium, preferably cholinium, and a straight or branched carboxylate anion having at least six carbon atoms; and its uses, for treating of oil sands or the like, for treating tailings from separation of bitumen, asphaltenes or the like.
1. A method for treating oil sands comprising adding thereto an effective amount of a hydrotropic composition comprising: at least one surface active cationic component, which is selected from a group of cholinium, guanidinium or tetramethylguanidinium, and a carboxylate anion which comprises neodecanoate.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the surface active cationic component in the hydrotropic composition originates from an organic salt which is in a molten state at temperatures below 100° C.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the neodecanoate is obtained through Reppe-Koch chemistry of acid-catalysed hydrocarboxylation on octene isomers, derived from propene polymerisation.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrotropic composition has a median effective concentration EC50 value>100 mg/l measured using Vibrio Fischeri bacteria.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface active cationic component in the hydrotropic composition has a median effective concentration EC50 value of 100-1000 mg/l.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrotropic composition has an average critical micelle concentration CMC>10 mM.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrotropic composition has hydrotropic properties between 20/80 to 90/10% (w/v) ratio of composition to water.
8. A method according to claim 1 , for treating tailings, wherein the tailings originate from separation of bitumen, asphaltenes or the like.
9. The method of claim 4 , wherein the EC50 value>100 mg/l is measured using Vibrio Fischeri bacteria.
10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the average critical micelle concentration CMC>100 mM.