Abstract: A demulsification process for extracting surface active biochemical products from crude oil and its fractions when they are used as feedstock during biochemical productions utilizes subcritical/supercritical CO2 as a proton pump. The process also includes a pH tuning step, thereby inducing demulsification and precipitation of biochemical products into the aqueous phase, but avoiding asphaltene precipitation by apriori addition of resinous solvents derived from crude oil or bioresources. The biochemical products are then extracted from the aqueous phase via temperature change or some other technique.

Abstract: Methods for demulsifying an emulsified petroleum source having a predetermined resin-to-asphaltene ratio without substantial aggregation or precipitation of asphaltenes may include adding a resin supplement to the emulsified petroleum source to form a resin-supplemented emulsion having a resin-to-asphaltene ratio above a predetermined critical value. An acidic-to-basic ratio of acidic functional groups to basic functional groups in the supplemented emulsion may be adjusted to be from about 0.25 to about 4.0. The resin-supplemented emulsion may be contacted with carbon dioxide to form an initial mixture having an emulsified oil phase and an emulsified aqueous phase. The initial mixture may be stabilized to facilitate rupture of the resin-supplemented emulsion, to cause phase separation, and to allow removal of a separated oil phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making completely biodegradable, hydrophobic, oleophilic plant based materials which are useful in adsorption of petroleum products. The materials have an average diameter of from 1 to 5 mm, and an ash content of from 10% to 30%. The non-paraffin coating is an animal fat product, preferably produced by dissolving a pure animal fat and using this as the coating material.

Abstract: Methods for demulsifying an emulsified petroleum source having a predetermined resin-to-asphaltene ratio without substantial aggregation or precipitation of asphaltenes may include adding a resin supplement to the emulsified petroleum source to form a resin-supplemented emulsion having a resin-to-asphaltene ratio above a predetermined critical value. An acidic-to-basic ratio of acidic functional groups to basic functional groups in the supplemented emulsion may be adjusted to be from about 0.25 to about 4.0. The resin-supplemented emulsion may be contacted with carbon dioxide to form an initial mixture having an emulsified oil phase and an emulsified aqueous phase. The initial mixture may be stabilized to facilitate rupture of the resin-supplemented emulsion, to cause phase separation, and to allow removal of a separated oil phase.

Abstract: Methods for recovering organic heteroatom compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstock include feeding into a contactor a hydrocarbon feedstock and an aqueous solvent to form an extraction mixture of the aqueous solvent with the hydrocarbon feedstock. The hydrocarbon feedstock includes a hydrocarbon and an organic heteroatom compound. The aqueous solvent includes an ionic liquid formed from pressurized carbon dioxide and water. A pressure and temperature of the extraction mixture may be established that together tune the aqueous solvent to selectively form a solvent complex with the at least one organic heteroatom compound. Then, the solvent complex is extracted to a recovery vessel from the extraction mixture in the contactor. By adjustment of a recovery temperature of the recovery vessel, a recovery pressure of the recovery vessel, or both, the solvent complex decomposes into carbon dioxide and the organic heteroatom compound. The organic heteroatom compound is then recovered from the recovery vessel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing oxygen from a water containing reaction medium. A pair of electrodes (cathode and anode), are added to the medium, with a surfactant attached to the surface of at least one of the cathode and anode. The medium is kept at an acidic pH, and an electrical current is applied. Oxygen is drawn to the electrodes, displacing surfactant, and reacts with H+ ions and H2O molecules to form H2O2, which can then be removed.

Abstract: Methods for recovering organic heteroatom compounds from a hydrocarbon feedstock include feeding into a contactor a hydrocarbon feedstock and an aqueous solvent to form an extraction mixture of the aqueous solvent with the hydrocarbon feedstock. The hydrocarbon feedstock includes a hydrocarbon and an organic heteroatom compound. The aqueous solvent includes an ionic liquid formed from pressurized carbon dioxide and water. A pressure and temperature of the extraction mixture may be established that together tune the aqueous solvent to selectively form a solvent complex with the at least one organic heteroatom compound. Then, the solvent complex is extracted to a recovery vessel from the extraction mixture in the contactor. By adjustment of a recovery temperature of the recovery vessel, a recovery pressure of the recovery vessel, or both, the solvent complex decomposes into carbon dioxide and the organic heteroatom compound. The organic heteroatom compound is then recovered from the recovery vessel.

Abstract: A process for converting carbon dioxide to hydrocarbon fuels using solar energy harnessed with a solar thermal power system to create thermal energy and electricity, using the thermal energy to heat a fuel feed stream, the heated fuel feed stream comprising carbon dioxide and water, the carbon dioxide captured from a flue gas stream, converting the carbon dioxide and water in a syngas production cell, the syngas production cell comprising a solid oxide electrolyte, to create carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and converting the carbon monoxide and hydrogen to hydrocarbon fuels in a catalytic reactor. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. In at least one embodiment, the syngas production cell is a solid oxide electrolyzer cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for making completely biodegradable, hydrophobic, oleophilic plant based materials which are useful in adsorption of petroleum products. The materials have an average diameter of from 1 to 5 mm, and an ash content of from 10% to 30%. The non-paraffin coating is an animal fat product, preferably produced by dissolving a pure animal fat and using this as the coating material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for removing oxygen from a water containing reaction medium. A pair of electrodes (cathode and anode), are added to the medium, with a surfactant attached to the surface of at least one of the cathode and anode. The medium is kept at an acidic pH, and an electrical current is applied. Oxygen is drawn to the electrodes, displacing surfactant, and reacts with H+ ions and H2O molecules to form H2O2, which can then be removed.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.

Abstract: A wash cycle is provided for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned. The wash cycle includes a step of providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load. Another step is loading the wash zone with the substrate load. Another step is mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent. Another step is combining the active bleaching agent with the wash liquor. Another step is applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load. Another step is capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.

Abstract: A wash cycle is provided for a clothes washer, the clothes washer having a wash zone for receiving a substrate load to be cleaned. The wash cycle includes a step of providing a wash liquor for applying to the substrate load. Another step is loading the wash zone with the substrate load. Another step is mixing metal ions with an inactive bleaching agent as catalyst agents to catalyze an activation reaction to produce an active bleaching agent. Another step is combining the active bleaching agent with the wash liquor. Another step is applying the wash liquor with the active bleaching agent to the substrate load. Another step is capturing the metal ions prior to a disposal of the wash liquor.

Abstract: A control for an automatic washer to operate the washer through a wash cycle determined based upon various soils and stains in the substrate load to be washed with a wash liquor in a wash zone of the washer. The control has a plurality of stain/soil type entrées, which can be at least one of selected and detected, and cleaned with a particular wash cycle. The control has dispensing control over at least one wash liquor additive. The control has operational control over activators and deactivators for members of the additives group. The control has operational control over the particular wash cycles using the dispensing control to dispense additives to the wash liquor at selected times during the wash cycle and operating the activators and deactivators at selected times during the wash cycle.