Abstract: A biodegradable drilling mud, comprising a water/organic phase reverse emulsion in a volume ratio ranging from 50/50 to 10/90, which contains: a) from 1 to 5% by volume of at least one nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of amino acids, carbamic mono- and polyamides and mono- and polycarbamic amides, of formulae (I) and (II) respectively, taken alone or as a mixture: R—[NH—CH2]n—CO—NH2  (I) R—NH—[CO—NH]m—H  (II)  wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group comprising from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and n and m are integers ranging from 1 to 5, b) from 2 to 10% by volume of at least one phosphorus derivative selected from the group consisting of surfactant phosphorus compounds, and c) from 2 to 10% by volume of at least one oxygenated compound selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, fatty acid esters of fatty alcohols comprising carbon-based chains comprising from 12 to 24 carbon atoms, alone or

Abstract: A microemulsion is prepared containing: a mixture of (1) nitrogenous compounds, (2) from 10-5% by weight of an alkyl or alkenyl phosphoric ester surfactant, the alkyl and alkenyl groups of which contain less than 12 carbon atoms per group and the ester surfactant containing from 1 to 10 alkoxy radicals, (3) from 3 to 20% by weight of at least one cosurfactant, (4) a vegetable oil, an animal oil or a fatty acid and (5) a plasticizer. The microemulsion having a viscosity at 5° C. less than or equal to 200 mPa·sec and is stable at a temperature of −10° C. to +50° C. Further, the microemulsion is useful as a biodegradation accelerator.

Abstract: Biodegradation additive characterized in that it consists of a mixture of (i) at least one assimilable nitrogen source composed of at least one unsubstituted or substituted amino acid; (ii) at least one phosphorus source, the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus ranging from 2 to 100, said additive being subjected to a treatment to make it oleophilic. The invention also concerns an additive in accordance with any of the foregoing claims for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A process affording protection to solid surfaces and especially coastal areas against hydrocarbon pollution involves applying a protective layer composed of polysaccharides containing pendant carboxyl groups, such as alginates or lightly methylated pectins.