Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reverse osmosis composite membrane, including: (i) bringing a mixed liquid containing carbon nanotubes, water, and an amine component into contact with a porous support, the mixed liquid being produced through a step of pressurizing and compressing an aqueous solution containing the carbon nanotubes while flowing the aqueous solution, followed by releasing or reducing a pressure to return a volume of the aqueous solution to an original volume to mix the carbon nanotubes; and then (ii) subjecting the amine component in the mixed liquid adhering to the porous support to a crosslinking reaction.

Abstract: Marine fuel compositions that are low sulfur and have improved wax flow viscosity are disclosed. An example marine fuel composition may have the following enumerated properties: a sulfur content of about 0.50% or less by weight of the marine fuel composition; a density at 15° C. of about 0.86 g/cm3 to about 1.01 g/cm3; a kinematic viscosity at 50° C. of about 1 centistoke to about 700 centistokes; and a ratio of kinematic viscosity to wax flow viscosity of greater than 1, wherein the wax flow viscosity is determined using a minimum operating viscosity of about 8 centistokes at 50° C.

Abstract: Methods for making efficient use of steam in a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) process for recovering heavy oils from tar sands and similar petroleum deposits are disclosed. The methods utilize a surfactant to generate steam foam in ways that maximize efficient use of steam. In some aspects, steam foam is used in water layers or gas caps that reside above steam chambers to prevent loss of steam from the steam chamber. The predominant use of relatively dry steam in SAGD processes makes it challenging to find ways to introduce surfactants and generate steam foam. However, decreasing the mobility of the steam by converting at least some of it to foam allows the wellbore and steam chambers above the injection site to be more fully developed, provides for more effective heat transfer to the heavy oil and rock, improves production, and allows recovery of the heavy oil with a minimum amount of steam usage.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sulfur-functional tall oil compositions, referred to herein as S-TO compositions. The S-TO is a sulfur-functional tall oil fatty amide composition, or sulfur-functional tall oil phosphate ester composition. Also disclosed herein are S-TO concentrates, which are stable and do not degrade to form H2S under standard storage conditions for a period of 1 day to 5 years. Also disclosed herein are treated water sources and treated metal containments including one or more S-TO compositions. The S-TO compositions inhibit corrosion of a metal containments contacted with one or more water sources, wherein the one or more water sources comprise one or more corrodents. The S-TO compositions are as effective or more effective at inhibiting corrosion than conventional sulfur-based corrosion inhibitors when compared on a weight basis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing the content of monoglycerides (MG), also called monoacylglycerides (MAG), especially of saturated monoglycerides (SMG), in a crude biodiesel (CB).

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fuel composition for improving the lubricity property. Further provided is a process for preparation of the composition.

Abstract: A bearing grease includes a base oil and a thickener, and the base oil includes mineral oil and poly-?-olefin. The poly-?-olefin may be a blend of poly-?-olefin having a kinetic viscosity higher than that of the mineral oil and poly-?-olefin having a kinetic viscosity equal to or lower than that of the mineral oil, and the kinetic viscosity of the base oil at 40° C. is in a range of 40 through 90 mm2/s. The amount of the poly-?-olefin by mass in the base oil is greater than the amount of the mineral oil by mass in the base oil. The worked penetration of the grease is in a range of 200 through 250. The grease reduces flying grease and outgas and has superior low-temperature characteristics.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of making asymmetric membranes comprising a first layer and a second layer. The methods include preparing a polymeric solution comprising one or more polymers, casting the polymeric solution to form a polymeric film, contacting the polymeric film with a solvent comprising a crosslinker under conditions to form a first layer on the top of the film, wherein the first layer is dense and solvent resistant, and contacting the polymeric film having the dense, solvent-resistant first layer with a non-solvent solution under conditions that form a porous second layer on the bottom of the film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a composition [composition (C)] comprising a poly(biphenyl ether sulfone) polymer [polymer (P)] and selected metal oxides in specific amounts. Composition (C) can be advantageously used for the manufacture of sterilizable shaped articles.

Abstract: Micro- or nano-pores are produced in a membrane for various applications including filtration and sorting functions. Pores with at least one cross-sectional dimension in or near the nano-scale are provided. Device designs and processing allow for the use of thin film disposition and nano-imprinting or nano-molding to produce arrays of nano-pores in membrane materials functioning in applications such as filtration membranes, drug application/control structures, body fluid sampling structures, and sorting membranes. The nano-imprinting or nano-molding approach is utilized to create nano-elements in an organic or inorganic mold material with at least one nano-element cross-sectional dimension in or close to the nano-scale. These nano-elements can be in various shapes including slits, cones, columns, domes, and hemispheres.

Abstract: Provided is a grease composition including a thickener and a base oil, in which the thickener is a urea compound represented by formula (1) R1-NHCONH—R2-NHCONH—R3??(1) wherein R2 represents a divalent C6-15 aromatic hydrocarbon group, and R1 and R3 may be the same or different and each represent an C8-22 alkyl group, a cyclohexyl group, or an C6-12 aryl group, and as the base oil, one or more types of a compound represented by formula (2) are contained at 40% by mass or more relative to a total mass of the base oil, wherein R4 and R5 may be the same or different and each represent a linear or branched C10-26 alkyl group, where m and n are real numbers being 0 or more which satisfy m+n=2.

Abstract: A traction fluid comprising a blend of 2,3-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethylbutane (HAD) and 2,3-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethylbutane (iso-HAD) is found to have a lower viscosity at low temperatures when compared to a traction fluid having only HAD or only iso-HAD as a base fluid with no compromise to traction coefficient. The traction fluid may comprise additives. The traction fluid usually comprises HAD:isoHAD between about 8:1 to about 1:3. Further, the HAD:iso-HAD traction fluid blend is produced by a method of simultaneous co-production of hydrogenated HAD and hydrogenated iso-HAD from an alpha styrene dimer and an iso-HAD precursor with a yield of about 90% in a method that does not require a purification step.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for microbial bioburden reduction of various chromatography matrices, including bioburden reduction in the context of large-scale Protein A-based affinity chromatography columns.

Abstract: The subject invention provides microbe-based products, as well as their use to improve oil well production and increase the value of heavy crude oil. Specifically, the subject invention provides cultivated yeast products, which can be applied to oil and/or oil and gas production equipment to improve production and increase the economic value of heavy crude oil by, for example, upgrading heavy oils and/or converting heavy hydrocarbon substances, such as asphalts, asphaltenes, tars, bitumens and/or petcokes into lighter hydrocarbon substances.

Abstract: A coating material for preventing metal corrosion contains 50 to 99% by mass of an inorganic layered compound having an average particle size of 10 ?m or less; 1 to 50% by mass of a corrosion inhibitor; and a liquid medium, in which the total content of the inorganic layered compound and the corrosion inhibitor is 100% by mass.

Abstract: A traction fluid comprising a blend of 2,3-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethylbutane (HAD) and 2,3-dicyclohexyl-2,3-dimethylbutane (iso-HAD) is found to have a lower viscosity at low temperatures when compared to a traction fluid having only HAD or only iso-HAD as a base fluid with no compromise to traction coefficient. The traction fluid may comprise additives. The traction fluid usually comprises HAD:isoHAD between about 8:1 to about 1:3. Further, the HAD:iso-HAD traction fluid blend is produced by a method of simultaneous co-production of hydrogenated HAD and hydrogenated iso-HAD from an alpha styrene dimer and an iso-HAD precursor with a yield of about 90% in a method that does not require a purification step.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous web of polymeric membrane and for continuous downstream processing of said web. The apparatus (10) comprises: a casting station (20) for casting the continuous web (M); a carrier (24) for carrying the web downstream; a membrane drier (30) downstream of the carrier, for drying the web; and a brushing station (40) downstream of the drier for brushing the web. Said drier is located immediately downstream of the carrier, and upstream of said brushing station. The apparatus (10) further includes an additional drying station (50) downstream of the brushing station (40). Brushing after drying retains more surfactant in the membrane which is useful for certain applications. In addition, initial drying eliminates virtually all solvents from the membrane, but leaves some non-solvent (e.g. water) within it, which in turn fixes the surfactant on the nitrocellulose fibers, which improves significantly the consistency and reproducibility of the membrane.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to corrosion inhibitor compositions, formulations, and compounds. The compositions, formulations, and compounds may be used is various methods to inhibit corrosion of metallic surfaces in aqueous environments. In some embodiments, the metallic surface may include one or more of copper, iron, brass, nickel, aluminium, manganese, lead, and bronze.

Abstract: A method for producing a high viscosity, low volatiles blown stripped oil blend is provided. The method may include the steps of: (i) obtaining an oil blend of corn stillage oil and soybean oil having a weight ratio of corn stillage oil to soybean oil of from about 1:2 to 3:1; (ii) heating the oil blend to at least 90° C.; (iii) passing air through the heated oil blend to produce a blown oil having a viscosity of at least 50 cSt at 40° C.; and (iv) stripping the blown oil from step (iii) to reduce an acid value of the blown oil to less than 5.0 mg KOH/gram.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sulfur-functional corrosion inhibitors that are adducts of a cyclic anhydride with 2-mercaptoethanol. Concentrates of the sulfur-functional corrosion inhibitors do not degrade to form H2S under standard storage conditions for a period of up to 5 years. Also disclosed herein are treated water sources and treated metal containments including one or more sulfur-functional corrosion inhibitors. The sulfur-functional corrosion inhibitors inhibit corrosion of metal containments contacted with one or more water sources, wherein the one or more water sources comprise one or more corrodents. The sulfur-functional corrosion inhibitors are as effective or more effective at inhibiting corrosion than conventional sulfur-based corrosion inhibitors when compared on a weight or a volume basis.