Abstract: Disclosed is a method for recovering and re-employing ionic surfactants from solutions, dispersions and emulsions of water and liquid hydrocarbons, by the addition of a second non-aqueous polar phase and an inorganic salt which changes the ionic strength of the surfactant and causes the surfactant to partition principally into the non-aqueous second polar phase. More specifically, the method applies to recovering hydrate growth inhibitor/modifying compounds, with cationic surfactants such as ammonium, phosphonium and sulphonium alkylated compounds from the effluent of hydrocarbon production wells; the effluent including water, hydrate inhibitor compound, at least one additional polar solvent and inorganic salt. Sufficient additional ions of inorganic salt, and if necessary, an alcohol/glycol are added to the effluent to form a second polar phase that is less polar than the aqueous phase, into which the hydrate inhibitor can then dissolve and be separated from the effluent.

Abstract: A method for producing an epoxy polyetherpolyol having 15 to 75 wt. % epoxy comprising heating a polyol and catalyst to initiate condensation, removing water, introducing sufficient epoxy into the reaction mixture to give 15 to 75 wt. % epoxy in the product. Generally, between 0.5 and 1.19 moles of water per mole of polyol are removed. In one embodiment at least 95 wt. % of all of the polyol is introduced initially into the reaction zone. In another embodiment the condensation is terminated prior to 93 percent completion. Also provided are novel compositions suitable for drilling fluids, adhesives and coatings.

Abstract: Reduction of the adhesion of polyethercyclicpolyol (PECP) to metals by preparing the PECP by condensing polyol molecules by reactive distillation and replacing part of the polyol with an alcohol of lower hydroxyl content than the polyol.

Abstract: Reducing the adherence of polyethercyclicpolyol to metal by exposing the metal to a selected surfactant.

Abstract: A process is provided for the production of a porous crosslinked polymeric foam comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first water-in-oil emulsion comprising (i) a first mixture of polymerizable monomers comprising at least one oil-soluble vinyl monomer and from about 2 to about 70 weight percent, based on the mixture, of a multifunctional unsaturated crosslinking monomer, (ii) at least 70 weight percent, based on the emulsion, of water as the internal phase (iii) an effective amount to produce the water-in-oil emulsion of a first surfactant, and (iv) a first polymerization initiator; (b) providing a second water-in-oil emulsion comprising (i) a mixture of polymerizable monomers comprising at least one oil-soluble vinyl monomer and from about 2 to about 70 weight percent, based on the mixture, of a second multifunctional unsaturated crosslinking monomer, (ii) at least 70 weight percent, based on the emulsion, of water as the internal phase (iii) an effective amount to produce the water-in-oil emulsion of a