Abstract: The invention comprise a composition for breaking oil-in-water emulsions comprising adding from about 1 part per million to about 500 parts per million of an amphoteric acrylic acid copolymer to the emulsion. Once the copolymer is added, the emulsion is subjected to agitation until the oil-in-water emulsion is resolved and the oil and water separates into two phases. The oil and water phases are then subjected to a separation technique to separate the phases. The invention further comprises a method of synthesizing the amphoteric polymers used in the emulsion breaking application.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method of preventing crude oil from becoming emulsified in desalter wash water. According to the method, the wash water is treated with an effective amount of a dispersion of a water-soluble cationic polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recovering oil and clarifying waste water from an oil field are disclosed. The method includes the step of treating the waste water with an aqueous de-emulsifying agent comprising wattle tannin, an inorganic coagulant and a synthetic polymer flocculant to destabilize the oil emulsion and rapidly agglomerate the oil particles formed thereby. Efficiency of the present de-emulsifying agent permits use of flotation equipment for rapid clean-up of the waste water and obviates the need for large settling pits.

Abstract: A method for reducing cyanide contaminants in refinery waste waters prior to reuse or release into the environment comprising adding to the waters a cyanide reactive scavenger comprising at least one amine-aldehyde reaction product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of recycling waste oil fluids including dispersed solids and emulsified water. According to the method, the waste oil is treated with an effective amount of a dispersion of a water-soluble cationic polymer.

Abstract: A process for the removal of water soluble organic compounds from produced water is provided. The process allows for the removal of water soluble organic compounds by passing the produced water through a column of adsorbing resin which is capable of removing the soluble organic compounds from the water and providing an environmentally acceptable effluent. The removal of polllutants from the produced water is monitored continuously by a fluorescence detector. The process further allows for the generation of the adsorbing resin by regenerating the resin with a solvent capable of eluting accumulated soluble organic compounds from the column followed by treatment of the resin with steam to remove residual eluting solvent. The process further allows for the treatment of the eluting solvent and soluble organic compound admixture in a manner to allow reuse of the solvent and to allow recovery of the soluble organic compound or to allow direct injection of the soluble organic compound admixture into the oil stream.

Abstract: Improved water quality of overboard waters discharged from off-shore oil producing rigs is obtained by treating oily produced waters from a crude oil separator, and prior to exposure to air, with an effective coalescing amount of a combination of an iron chelating agent and various polymeric coagulating/coalescing agents. The preferred chelating agent is citric acid, or its salts, EDTA, HEDTA, or mixtures thereof. The polymeric coagulating/coalescing agents may be anionic, cationic, ampohoteric, but are most preferably copolymers of acrylamide with at least one of the monomers chosen from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, DMAEA, DMAEM, or their acid of quaternary salts, DADMAC, MAPTAC, AMPS, and the like.

Abstract: A process for the removal of water soluble organic compounds from produced water is provided. The process allows for the removal of water soluble organic compounds by passing the produced water through a column of adsorbing resin which is capable of removing the soluble organic compounds from the water and providing an environmentally acceptable effluent. The process further allows for the regeneration of the adsorbing resin by backwashing the resin with a solvent capable of eluting accumulated soluble organic compounds from the column. The process further allows for the treatment of the eluting solvent and soluble organic compound admixture in a manner to allow reuse of the solvent and to allow recovery of the soluble organic compounds or to allow direct injection of the soluble organic compound admixture into the oil stream. Thus, the invention provides a process for removal and recovery of water soluble organic compounds from produced water which creates no environmentally hazardous waste streams.

Abstract: A method for resolving an oil-in-water emulsion by dosing the water to be resolved with a polymer produced by the emulsion polymerization of only hydrophobic monomers where at least one monomer is a neutral amine containing monomer which becomes hydrophilic when the amine is salified.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for clarifying water comprising dosing the water to be clarified with a copolymer produced by the emulsion polymerization of only hydrophobic monomers where at least one hydrophobic monomer is an amine containing monomer which is hydrophobic when the amine is neutral and hydrophilic when the amine is salified.

Abstract: A method for clarifying water by liquid/solid separation comprising dosing the water to be clarified with a copolymer produced by the emulsion polymerization of only hydrophobic monomers where at least one hydrophobic monomer is an amine containing monomer which is hydrophobic when the amine is neutral and hydrophilic when the amine is salified.

Abstract: A method for dewatering a slurry of solid particles suspended in a liquid using a twin belt press dewatering system, comprising the following steps:feeding the slurry of solid particles into the dewatering system;feeding a cationic amine salt solution into the dewatering system at a point just prior to the mixing drum, the cationic amine salt being a latex copolymer of acrylamide and dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate sulfuric acid salt having a mole ratio in the range between about 30:70 to 70:30, preferably 53:47;mixing the cationic amine salt solution with the slurry of solid particles in the mixing drum; andfeeding the cationic amine salt solution/slurry mixture to the twin belt press, whereby the slurry of solid particles is dewatered. The cationic amine salt solution having a strength of less than 1% and a polymer concentration of about 35%.