Abstract: The invention relates to a method for impregnating a support matrix with solid and/or liquid compounds using a compressed gas or a compressed mixture of gases at densities ranging from 0.15 to 1.3 kg/l and at least two unsymmetrical pressure changes (pulsations). The method is further characterized in that both a multitude of impregnating substances such as biologically active compounds, technical materials or metal-organic compounds, as well as support matrices of biological origin and organic or inorganic substances can be used that have large inner surfaces and/or inner surfaces that are difficult to access.

Abstract: A copolymer based on olefinic sulphonic acids as monomer component a) and an organosilicone-containing compound as reactive component b) is proposed, for which in particular 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS®) is suitable as component a) and vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane and trichlorosilane as component b). This copolymer, which may have a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, may also comprise further reaction components c) and d) in addition to the two main components for which further reaction components (meth)acrylamides or vinyl ethers are suitable. These copolymers, which are obtainable in particular by precipitation or gel polymerizations, are used in particular in applications in construction chemistry and here especially as water retention agents and fluid loss additives in drilling fluids and for well cementing.

Abstract: Subject matter of the present invention is a drilling fluid additive based on sulfonated asphalt, which comprises a water soluble and anionic polymer component in quantities of 0.1 to 20 wt. %, with respect to the total additive in addition to the asphalt component. With this additive the water solubility of sulfonated asphalt can be markedly increased. This additive, whose polymer component is thermally highly stable, is utilized primarily in water- and/or oil-based drilling fluids and in particular in the exploration of subterraneous petroleum and natural gas deposits. Typical polymer components to consider are representatives of polycondensation products, such as phenol resins, ketone resins and sulfonated naphthalene, acetone and amino plasticizer resins (for example urea and melamine resins).

Abstract: Process for the extraction of substances from at least one silane-modified oxidic or silicatic filler, wherein at least one gas compressed by means of pressure and/or temperature is employed as the extraction agent and the compressed gas is led in the radial direction through the filler in the pressure container and/or the substances extracted from the silane-modified filler are removed from the compressed gas with a suitable sorbent. A device for carrying out the process is furthermore described, wherein this comprises at least one pressure container having at least one internal container, sieve or insert for accommodation of the fillers which is permeable to gas and at least one gas feed and gas removal in the bulk bed of filler, and has a radially designed gas feed or gas removal from the bulk bed of filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the physical treatment of starch (derivatives) using densified gases, in which essentially the starting material is treated at process temperatures between 20 and 200° C. and at process pressures between 50 and 800° C. for at least one minute, the density of the densified gas (mixture) being >180 kg/m3. Suitable starting materials are, in particular, native plant starches, starch from genetically modified plants, or physically and/or chemically modified starches. The treatment with, in particular, densified carbon dioxide, can be carried out under defined pressure change sequences, for which, in particular, liquid aids, such as water or suitable organic solvents, can also be added.

Abstract: A novel method for breaking the viscosity of an aqueous phase thickened with preferably hydrophilic polymers in the exploration and production of mineral oil and/or natural gas is proposed. For this purpose, the breaking is carried out via the formation of a low-viscosity emulsion, with water as the continuous phase, this emulsion being formed by the addition of at least one surface-active component to a system which consists of the thickened drilling fluid and an oil phase which is crude oil present in the reservoir and/or oil introduced into the reservoir. Solubilizers between oil phase and water phase and in particular non-ionic surfactants, cationic surfactants and/or amphoteric surfactants are used as a preferred surface-active component. In addition to the surface-active component, it is possible to use further components, which are demulsifiers, non-emulsifiers, co-surfactants or surface tension modifiers.

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: Rheological control of liquid phases is provided with a composition comprising a high-alumina cement component a) for controlling the rheology of liquid phases based on a clay component b). Component a) is preferably a calcium aluminate cement and component b) is preferably a clay of the smectite variety. The compositions comprise at least 20% by weight representative of the calcium aluminate cement and is preferably used for rheology control of water- or oil-based systems.

Abstract: A copolymer based on olefinic sulphonic acids as monomer component a) and an organosilicone-containing compound as reactive component b) is proposed, for which in particular 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonic acid (AMPS®) is suitable as component a) and vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane and trichlorosilane as component b). This copolymer, which may have a molecular weight of from 5,000 to 5,000,000 g/mol, may also comprise further reaction components c) and d) in addition to the two main components for which further reaction components (meth)acrylamides or vinyl ethers are suitable. These copolymers, which are obtainable in particular by precipitation or gel polymerizations, are used in particular in applications in construction chemistry and here especially as water retention agents and fluid loss additives in drilling fluids and for well cementing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for impregnating a support matrix with solid and/or liquid compounds using a compressed gas or a compressed mixture of gases at densities ranging from 0.15 to 1.3 kg/l and at least two unsymmetrical pressure changes (pulsations). The method is further characterized in that both a multitude of impregnating substances such as biologically active compounds, technical materials or metal-organic compounds, as well as support matrices of biological origin and organic or inorganic substances can be used that have large inner surfaces and/or inner surfaces that are difficult to access.

Abstract: Silane-modified oxidic or siliceous filler with a bead fraction below 75 ?m of less than 15 wt. % and a median particle size distribution between of 150 to 500 ?m, which is produced by the reaction of at least one microbeaded or microgranular, oxidic or siliceous filler in a compressed gas with at least one silane. The silane-modified oxidic or siliceous fillers are used in rubber compounds.

Abstract: Subject matter of the present invention is a drilling fluid additive based on sulfonated asphalt, which comprises a water soluble and anionic polymer component in quantities of 0.1 to 20 wt. %, with respect to the total additive in addition to the asphalt component. With this additive the water solubility of sulfonated asphalt can be markedly increased. This additive, whose polymer component is thermally highly stable, is utilized primarily in water- and/or oil-based drilling fluids and in particular in the exploration of subterraneous petroleum and natural gas deposits. Typical polymer components to consider are representatives of polycondensation products, such as phenol resins, ketone resins and sulfonated naphthalene, acetone and amino plasticizer resins (for example urea and melamine resins).

Abstract: Process for the extraction of substances from at least one silane-modified oxidic or silicatic filler, wherein at least one gas compressed by means of pressure and/or temperature is employed as the extraction agent and the compressed gas is led in the radial direction through the filler in the pressure container and/or the substances extracted from the silane-modified filler are removed from the compressed gas with a suitable sorbent. A device for carrying out the process is furthermore described, wherein this comprises at least one pressure container having at least one internal container, sieve or insert for accommodation of the fillers which is permeable to gas and at least one gas feed and gas removal in the bulk bed of filler, and has a radially designed gas feed or gas removal from the bulk bed of filler.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the physical treatment of starch (derivatives) using densified gases, in which essentially the starting material is treated at process temperatures between 20 and 200° C. and at process pressures between 50 and 800° C. for at least one minute, the density of the densified gas (mixture) being >180 kg/M3. Suitable starting materials are, in particular, native plant starches, starch from genetically modified plants, or physically and/or chemically modified starches. The treatment with, in particular, densified carbon dioxide, can be carried out under defined pressure change sequences, for which, in particular, liquid aids, such as water or suitable organic solvents, can also be added.

Abstract: For the preparation of pulverulent particle-reduced formulations with the aid of compressed gases, the solid compound to be formulated, a poorly soluble and usually bioactive active compound, is homogeneously ground together with 10-99% by weight (based on the formulation) of a carrier material which is essentially soluble in the compressed gas mixture, in the presence of compressed gas or mixtures thereof in a stirred autoclave having a mechanical grinding device at process temperatures between 10 and 200° C. and at process pressures between 5 and 500 bar, and in a second process stage the compressed gas mixture, usually dimethyl ether, pure propane and/or carbon dioxide, is expanded by lowering the pressure and separated off from the homogenate, which can also be present as a melt.

Abstract: Silane-modified oxidic or siliceous filler with a bead fraction below 75 &mgr;m of less than 15 wt. % and a median particle size distribution between of 150 to 500 &mgr;m, which is produced by the reaction of at least one microbeaded or microgranular, oxidic or siliceous filler in a compressed gas with at least one silane. The silane-modified oxidic or siliceous fillers are used in rubber compounds.

Abstract: This invention relates to homogeneous, anhydrous formulations which contain glycerophospholipids and polar or lipophilic substances (eg, physiologically active ingredients) in a molar ratio of 1:0.001 to 1:2, and maybe anhydrous formulation aids, eg, in the form of glycerol, in a molar ratio of 1:0.001 to 1:1, expressed in terms of the glycerophospholipids, the components forming such stable aggregates with one another as to render the formulations ideal for the preparation of dispersions, emulsions and/or suspensions in many fields of application, these including the food-processing sector, biotechnology, and the pharmaceuticals industry. The formulations are produced in an extraction column using compressed hydrocarbons, and are obtained from the column as a melt.

Abstract: For the fractionation of viscous silicones, oily or polymeric diorganosilicones with a chain length of between 2 and 10 000 are separated into a top and a bottom product, preferably continuously in an extracting column, using compressed hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane and n- or i-butane, or mixtures thereof, at temperatures of between 25 and 250° C., pressures of between 20 and 500 bar and a gas density >160 kg/m3. To avoid viscosity problems, either an organic solvent in the form of a C5-8 alkane or up to 85 wt. % of the compressed gas (mixture) can be added to the starting materials prior to fractionation. With this process, high-quality viscous silicone fractions are obtained, which have a chain length of 200 to 10 000 and/or a viscosity of 100 to 500 000 mPas, and whose total oligomer content D4 to D20 is less than 0.05 wt. %.

Abstract: The invention relates to oil-free glycerophospholipid formulations which contain a homogeneous mixture of glycerophospholipids and an anhydrous, liquid polyol compound such as glycerol in a molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1. These formulations are produced, eg, by extracting a starting material consisting of an oil-containing glycerophospholipid (mixture) and the polyol component with a compressed hydrocarbon (mixture) in a rectifying column. The oil-free formulation can be obtained from the melt at the bottom of the column in the form of free-flowing powder, which is ideally suited for stabilising oil-in-water emulsions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the fractionation of wool wax acid mixtures by dissolving the starting material in a polar organic solvent (mixture). The dissolved wool wax acid mixture is treated at a temperature between -5 and 30.degree. C. and at a pressure between 10 and 70 bar with gaseous carbon dioxide and the hydroxy-fatty acids that accumulate as a solid are separated from the solution.