Abstract: A flow improver comprising a plurality of core-shell particles that can be formed by emulsion polymerization. The core of the core-shell particles can include a drag reducing polymer, while the shell of the particles can include repeat units of a hydrophobic compound and an amphiphilic compound. The flow improver can demonstrate increased pumping stability over conventionally prepared latex flow improvers.

Abstract: A flow improver comprising a plurality of core-shell particles that can be formed by emulsion polymerization. The core of the core-shell particles can include a drag reducing polymer, while the shell of the particles can include repeat units of a hydrophobic compound and an amphiphilic compound. The flow improver can demonstrate increased pumping stability over conventionally prepared latex flow improvers.

Abstract: A flow improver comprising a plurality of core-shell particles that can be formed by emulsion polymerization. The core of the core-shell particles can include a drag reducing polymer, while the shell of the particles can include repeat units of a hydrophobic compound and an amphiphilic compound. The flow improver can demonstrate increased pumping stability over conventionally prepared latex flow improvers.

Abstract: A flow improver comprising a plurality of core-shell particles that can be formed by emulsion polymerization. The core of the core-shell particles can include a drag reducing polymer, while the shell of the particles can include repeat units of a hydrophobic compound and an amphiphilic compound. The flow improver can demonstrate increased pumping stability over conventionally prepared latex flow improvers.

Abstract: Methacrylate derivatives are added to salt-containing media to thicken the media, and are particularly useful in the exploration of mineral oil or natural gas deposits. The salt-containing media have a specific density of 1.2 to 2.5 kg/l. The respective methacrylate derivatives, which may be, e.g., mono- and/or difunctional variants, have been found to be particularly suitable, are used in a volume ratio of 100 to 1:1 and an amount of 0.5 to 15% by volume. The thickening of the salt-containing media is effected primarily as gel formation, which can be carried out with the aid of free radical initiators and at elevated temperatures. In particular, completion brines, drilling and drill-in fluids and fracturing fluids and acids having high salt contents are to be regarded as aqueous media. The methacrylate derivatives have a markedly good solubility in heavy brines, as are used primarily in upstream processes of the oil industry.

Abstract: The invention includes an ion affinity material having an organic component which is sulfonated and which is chemically bonded to an inorganic substrate component. The invention includes a method of forming a metal binding material. A solid support material comprising surface oxide groups is provided and an organic component having at least one alkyl halide is covalently linked to at least some of the surface oxide groups to form a modified support material. The at least one alkyl halide is subsequently converted into an alkyl sulfonate. The invention further includes a method and system for extracting ions from a liquid. An ion exchange material having a sulfonated alkyl silane component covalently bonded to a metal oxide support material is provided and a liquid is exposed to the ion exchange material.