Abstract: A method for removing sludge from a petroleum storage tank is based on a two-step approach utilizing solvent extraction to dissolve organic components of the sludge followed by water wash to remove inorganic materials. Sludges contain both organic-based solids (e.g., waxes and asphaltenes) as well as inorganic-based solids (known to exist as salts such as chlorides, carbonates, and oxides). The organic components of the sludge are dissolved using petroleum-based solvent streams that have been identified to possess high solvent power. The dissolved material can then be processed and recovered in the refinery using conventional refining operations. A water wash following removal of the organic materials is effective to remove the inorganic materials that can then be disposed of without the complications of the having to treat the oily organics along with them. A beneficial part of the method includes mixing and heating to improve the dissolution of soluble materials in both steps of the process.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to identify a refinery solid foulant of unknown composition including the following steps: obtaining a solid foulant sample, removing trapped feed from the sample with a solvent to obtain an insoluble sample, scanning the insoluble sample with a scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-rays, performing a thermal gravimetric analysis including an ash test on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of polymer, coke and inorganic elements, performing an elemental analysis on the insoluble sample for the elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, nitrogen, halogens, and metals, performing an optical microscopy on the insoluble sample to determine the presence of wax, asphaltenes, anisotropic coke and isotropic coke, and identifying the solid foulant.

Abstract: A cup is molded from two layers of stretchable materials by molding first the crown portion, inverting the materials and then molding the remainder of the cup. The resulting cup has a non-stretchable crown portion, a substantially non-stretchable longitudinal cup portion and a unitary multidirectional stretchable periphery portion. A pair of these cups are used to form a unique brassiere wherein the base layer forms a unitary cup, support frame and torso-encompassing portion.

Abstract: A cup is molded from two layers of stretchable materials by molding first the crown portion, inverting the materials and then molding the remainder of the cup. The resulting cup has a non-stretchable crown portion, a substantially non-stretchable longitudinal cup portion and a unitary multi-directional stretchable periphery portion. A pair of these cups are used to form a unique brassiere wherein the base layer forms a unitary cup, support frame and torso-encompassing portion.

Abstract: A cup is molded from two layers of stretchable materials by molding first the crown portion, inverting the materials and then molding the remainder of the cup. The resulting cup has a non-stretchable crown portion, a substantially non-stretchable longitudinal cup portion and a unitary multidirectional stretchable periphery portion. A pair of these cups are used to form a unique brassiere wherein the base layer forms a unitary cup, support frame and torso-encompassing portion.