Abstract: A method of correcting measurements of a chemical sensor used in an industrial facility. The method involves correcting for errors known to occur in the steady state and the dynamic state for specifically recognized situations. This method allows for correcting errors that occur due to deadtime, false zero measurements, and non-linear disturbances. The method combines automated measurement techniques and human know how to progressively learn and refine the accuracy of the corrections.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for reducing the energy needed to process stillage in an ethanol refining operation. The method involves adding to stillage an effective amount of at least one processing aid. The flocculant induces the separation of insoluble material that would otherwise remain suspended in water but which impose a high shear energy cost on the refining processes. This allows for the removal of insoluble material that would otherwise be overlooked but which increase energy costs. This allows for more efficient and effective separation and recovery of insoluble fractions of the concentrated thin stillage that would otherwise be overlooked and lost in the process. Loss of these valued fractions as a result of traditional processing techniques and those requiring extensive additional energy input results in the loss of high value co-products to low revenue process streams.

Abstract: A method of correcting measurements of a chemical sensor used in an industrial facility. The method involves correcting for errors known to occur in the steady state and the dynamic state for specifically recognized situations. This method allows for correcting errors that occur due to deadtime, false zero measurements, and non-linear disturbances. The method combines automated measurement techniques and human know how to progressively learn and refine the accuracy of the corrections.

Abstract: A method of processing thin stillage in an ethanol refining operation is provided. The method comprises treating thin stillage upstream of a concentration or evaporation step with an inverse emulsion comprising at least one anionic flocculant and an emulsifying agent selected from a sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, an ethoxylated sorbitan ester of a fatty acid, and combinations thereof, thereby forming treated thin stillage; clarifying the treated thin stillage via at least one of dissolved air flotation and induced air flotation, thereby forming clarified thin stillage and a float layer comprising oil and solids; separating the oil from the solids of the float layer; and recovering the oil.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a fluid treatment reactor. Separate input ports for influent and recycled effluent serve to eliminate the need for pH adjustment or carbonate stripping of the influent and recycled effluent flows. The fluid treatment reactor may include a media, a vessel including a top portion and a bottom portion, a solid discharge port, an effluent discharge port, an influent input in fluid communication with the media, and a recycled effluent port in fluid communication with the media.

Abstract: A method of optimizing system parameters in a crude unit to reduce corrosion and corrosion byproduct deposition in the crude unit is disclosed and claimed. The method includes measuring or predicting properties associated with the system parameters and using an automated controller to analyze the properties to cause adjustments in the chemical program to optimize the system parameters. Adjusting the system parameters effectively controls corrosion in the crude unit by reducing the corrosiveness of a fluid in the process stream and/or by protecting the system from a potentially corrosive substance. System parameter sensing probes are arranged at one or more locations in the process stream to allow accurate monitoring of the system parameters in the crude unit.

Abstract: A process of treating a gas stream containing at least one mercury compound or species, the process comprising: applying a composition into said gas stream ahead of a particulate matter collection device, wherein said composition contains a compound having the following formula (SiO2)x(OH)yMzSaF, wherein (i) SiO2 is an optional component; (ii) M comprises at least one of the following: boron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, titanium, vanadium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, zirconium, molybdenum, palladium, silver, cadmium, tin, platinum, gold, and bismuth; (iii) S comprises a sulfur-based species selected from at least one of the following: sulfide salts, dithiocarbamates, polymer-based dithiocarbamates, and polysulfide salts; (iii) F is an optional component and comprises at least one of the following: a functionalized organosilane, a sulfur-containing organosilane, an amine-containing organosilane, and an alkyl-containing organosilane.

Abstract: The invention is directed towards methods and compositions for identifying the presence of surfactants in water. The invention is quite superior over the prior art because it can form a colorful complex in half the time, avoid the need for difficult separation steps, use a safer solvent, and avoid the formation of messy foam. The invention involves adding to the water a cobalt thiocyanate reagent, pre-prepared from a cobalt salt and a thiocyanate salt, which forms a colorful complex with the surfactant. Chloroform is then added to the water. The cobalt reagent causes the virtually all of the surfactant to form a colored complex which rapidly migrates into the chloroform and prevents the surfactant from foaming. Once in the chloroform, a UV-vis spectrometer can easily and precisely identify the type and amount of surfactant that was in the water.

Abstract: Disclosed and claimed is a method of demulsifying an emulsion comprising water and oil. The method comprises adding an effective amount of a composition comprising at least one substantially fully quaternized ammonium adduct of polyephalohydrin that has a molecular weight from about 500 Da to about 2,500 Da.

Abstract: A fluid treatment reactor is provided. Separate input ports for influent and recycled effluent serve to eliminate the need for pH adjustment or carbonate stripping of the influent and recycled effluent flows.

Abstract: Described and claimed is a novel system and method for monitoring the metabolic rate of a cellular population in an industrial process. The invention includes obtaining a sample of the cellular population and initiating a reaction between a metabolic component of the cellular population and a bioreporter. The reaction produces a detectable metabolic signal which is measured and analyzed to determine a metabolic rate of the cellular population. In preferred embodiments, a controller is operable to provide prompts to a user and/or automate various steps of the invention.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to novel foamer compositions for treatment of oil and gas wells to enhance production. The invention provides a method of foaming a fluid. The method includes introducing into the fluid a foam-forming amount of a composition comprising at least one long chain fatty acid and at least one organic solvent. An example of the long chain fatty acid is tall oil fatty acid and an example of the organic solvent is ethyleneglycol monobutyl ether.

Abstract: A method of optimizing system parameters in a crude unit to reduce corrosion and corrosion byproduct deposition in the crude unit is disclosed and claimed. The method includes measuring or predicting properties associated with the system parameters and using an automated controller to analyze the properties to cause adjustments in the chemical program to optimize the system parameters. Adjusting the system parameters effectively controls corrosion in the crude unit by reducing the corrosiveness of a fluid in the process stream and/or by protecting the system from a potentially corrosive substance. System parameter sensing probes are arranged at one or more locations in the process stream to allow accurate monitoring of the system parameters in the crude unit.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more GPS-surfactant based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more particular silane based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.

Abstract: A method of correcting measurements of a chemical sensor used in an industrial facility. The method involves correcting for errors known to occur in the steady state and the dynamic state for specifically recognized situations. This method allows for correcting errors that occur due to deadtime, false zero measurements, and non-linear disturbances. The method combines automated measurement techniques and human know how to progressively learn and refine the accuracy of the corrections.

Abstract: This invention is method of producing a creping cylinder adhesive comprising: contacting a dry form PVOH with a liquid form PVA at a temperature of less than 80° C., maintaining the PVOH and PVA at a temperature of between 90-95° C. until the PVOH is completely dissolved into a medium, and allowing the medium to cool to below 80° C.

Abstract: Air and ammonia gas are introduced into a subterranean formation during the in-situ combustion to increase the mobility of hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation and facilitate recovery of the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. The air supports in-situ combustion of a portion of the hydrocarbon within the subterranean formation to form water and establish a combustion front. The ammonia gas contacts the hydrocarbons ahead of the combustion front and reacts in-situ with naphthenic acid in the hydrocarbon to form a surfactant. The hydrocarbons, water and surfactant then form an oil-in-water emulsion that drains more freely through the formation. A production well, in fluid communication with the hydrocarbons ahead of the combustion front, may be used to remove the oil-in-water emulsion from the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A challenge in using recycled material in the papermaking process is the presence of hydrophobic organics with adhesive properties commonly known as “stickies.” Hydrophobic agglomerates can result in spots or defects in the final paper product or deposit on papermaking equipment resulting in poor runnability and downtime. Technologies for monitoring and controlling microstickies exist. However, a need exists for a technique to rapidly determine the size and content of macrostickies (diameter>100 microns) in recycled pulp process streams. The present invention is a device and method to perform real-time macrostickies and/or any visible hydrophobic particle analysis in an aqueous medium. Using the present invention, furnish quality can be monitored and treatment performance can be monitored and controlled. The technique is based on fluorescence image analysis to identify and count sticky particles as well as measure their size.

Abstract: This invention provides novel compositions comprising substituted polyamines as acid gas scrubbing solutions and methods of using the compositions in an industrial system. The invention relates to the use of such polyamine compounds in industrial processes to remove acidic contaminants from natural and industrial fluid streams, such as natural gas, combustion gas, natural gas, synthesis gas, biogas, and other industrial fluid streams. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful for removal, absorption, or sequestration of acidic contaminants and sulfide contaminants including CO2, H2S, RSH, CS2, COS, and SO2.