Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is related to a process for desalting crude oil that requires less wash water than conventional desalting methods. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a chemical demulsifier formulation comprising an emulsion-breaking chemical and a solvent carrier is added to the crude oil. Wash water is then added to the crude oil until the volume of water in the oil ranges from about 0.1 to about 3 vol. %. Subsequently, the mixture of crude oil, wash water, and chemical demulsifier formulation is subjected to opposed-flow mixing. Chemical emulsion-breakers useful in the invention have a hydrophobic tail group and a hydrophilic head group. Preferably, the emulsion breaker has the formula: x ranges from 1 to 5, y ranges from 0 to 2, and R is an alkyl group having 4-9 carbon atoms, and n ranges from 3 to 9.

Abstract: A vegetation enhancement composite including a vegetation enhancement agent consisting of a first member selected from the group consisting of at least one macronutrient, micronutrient, nitrogen fertilizer including an inhibitor of nitrification activity, slow release fertilizer, and mixtures of such members and a pesticide; and at least one first controlled release film including a sulfonated polymer coating at least a portion of a surface of the vegetation enhancement agent.

Abstract: A composite comprising a urea substrate and ionically and covalently crosslinked, neutralized, sulfonated EPDM elastomeric coating encapsulating the urea.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in a fracturing process in an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: (a) a breaker chemical; (b) a water soluble sealing layer, such as urea, having a thickness within the range of about 1 to about 30 microns deposited on the surface of said breaker chemical and encapsulating said breaker chemical; and (c) a pinhole free coating of a neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the coated breaker chemical, wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical and is permeable to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in a fracturing process in the protection of an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: a breaker chemical; and a pinhole free coating of a neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the breaker chemical, wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical, wherein the neutralized sulfonated polymer is permeable to the breaker chemical and the neutralized sulfonated polymer is non-reactive to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the encapsulation of a solid substrate with a neutralized sulfonated polymer, which comprises the steps of: (a) forming a solution of a non-conjugated, diene polymer in a solvent selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; (b) contacting the solution of the unsaturated polymer with a sulfonating agent at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to form a solution of a sulfonated polymer containing free acid; (c) forming a solution of a base selected from the group consisting of alkali metal hydroxides and mixtures thereof in a mixtrue of an aliphatic alcohol and a hydrocarbon, the hydrocarbon being selected from the group consisting of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof; (d) adding the solution of base to the solution of sulfonated polymer in an amount sufficient to neutralize the polymer and the free acid, thereby forming a coating solution; (e) contacting the solid substr

Abstract: A composite comprising a substrate and a polymeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said polymer coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said polymer coating comprises an ionically and covalently crosslinked neutralized carboxylated polymer having a carboxylate content of about 5 to about 300 meq. per 100 grams of said ionically and covalently crosslinked neutralized carboxylated polymer.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: a breaker chemical; and a pinhole free coating of an ionically and covalently crosslinked neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the breaker chemical, wherein said polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical, wherein the polymer is permeable to the breaker chemical and the polymer is non-reactive to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: a breaker chemical; and a pinhole free coating of an ionically and covalently crosslinked neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polyer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the breaker chemical, wherein said polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical, wherein the polymer is permeable to the breaker chemical and the polymer is non-reactive to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in a fracturing process in the protection of an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: a breaker chemical; and a pinhole free coating of a neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the breaker chemical, wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical, wherein the neutralized sulfonated polymer is permeable to the breaker chemical and the neutralized sulfonated polymer is non-reactive to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: An encapsulated breaker chemical composition used in a fracturing process in an oil or gas stimulation operation which comprises: (a) a breaker chemical; (b) a water soluble sealing layer, such as urea, having a thickness within the range of about 1 to about 30 microns deposited on the surface of said breaker chemical and encapsulating said breaker chemical; and (c) a pinhole free coating of a neutralized sulfonated elastomeric polymer of about 2 to about 80 microns thick deposited onto the surface of the coated breaker chemical, wherein said neutralized sulfonated polymer encapsulates the breaker chemical and is permeable to the breaker chemical.

Abstract: An encapsulated water soluble fertilizer which comprises a polymeric film of about 2 to about 100 micrometers coated on a surface of said fertilizer, said polymeric film comprising a sulfonated polymer having about 10 to about 200 meq of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of said sulfonated polymer, said sulfonate groups being neutralized with a polycaprolactone polymer being characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups; m equals 1 to 20 and n equals 1 to 500.

Abstract: An encapsulated water soluble fertilizer which comprises a polymeric film of about 2 to about 100 micrometers coated on a surface of said fertilizer, said polymeric film comprising a sulfonated polymer having about 10 to about 200 meq of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of said sulfonated polymer, said sulfonate groups being neutralized with a polycaprolactone polymer being characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups; m equals 1 to 20 and n equals 1 to 500.

Abstract: A composite comprising a substrate and an elastomeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said elastomeric coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said elastomeric coating comprises a neutralized sulfonated polymer having a sulfonate content of about 4 to about 200 meq. per 100 grams of said neutralized sulfonated polymer.

Abstract: An encapsulated water soluble fertilizer which comprises a polymeric film of about 2 to about 100 micrometers coated on a surface of said fertilizer, said polymeric film comprising a sulfonated polymer having about 10 to about 200 meq of sulfonate group per 100 grams of said sulfonated polymer, said sulfonate groups being neutralized with a polycaprolactone polymer being characterized by the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups; m equal 1 to 20 and n equals 1 to 500.

Abstract: A composite comprising: a substrate; and a polymeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said polymer coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said polymer coating comprises a neutralized carboxylated polymer having a carboxylate content of about 5 to about 300 meq. per 100 grams of said neutralized carboxylated polymer.

Abstract: A composite comprising: a substrate; and a polymeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said polymer coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said polymer coating comprises a neutralized carboxylated polymer having a carboxylate content of about 5 to about 300 meq. per 100 grams of said neutralized carboxylated polymer.

Abstract: A polymeric composite comprising a (a) urea; (b) a coating of sulfonated polymer which has about 10 to about 200 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of said sulfonated polymer, said sulfonate groups being neutralized with a polycaprolactone polymer having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups; m equals 1 to 20 and n equals 1 to 500, wherein said coating is deposited on the surface of said urea.

Abstract: A polymeric composite comprising a (a) urea; (b) a coating of sulfonated polymer which has about 10 to about 200 meq. of sulfonate groups per 100 grams of said sulfonated polymer, said sulfonate groups being neutralized with a polycaprolactone polymer having the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl group; R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are a hydrogen or alkyl, cycloalkyl, or aryl groups; m equals 1 to 20 and n equals 1 to 500, wherein said coating is deposited on the surface of said urea.

Abstract: A composite comprising a substrate and an elastomeric coating adhered to at least one surface of said substrate, said elastomeric coating having a thickness of about 1 to about 100 micrometers, wherein said elastomeric coating comprises an interpolymeric complex of a neutralized sulfonated polymer and an amine containing polymer, said neutralized sulfonated polymer having a sulfonate content of about 4 to about 200 meq. per 100 grams of said neutralized sulfonated polymer and said amine containing polymer containing basic nitrogen atoms wherein the basic nitrogen content ranges from about 4 to about 500 meq. per 100 grams of polymer.