Abstract: Provided herein are processes for deasphalting and extracting a hydrocarbon oil. The processes comprise providing an oil comprising asphaltenes and/or other impurities, combining the oil with a polar solvent an extracting agent to provide a mixture, and applying a stimulus to the mixture so that at least a portion of any asphaltenes and/or impurities in the oil precipitate out of the oil.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sorbent composition including an adsorbent support; and a metal component comprising a transition metal, wherein the metal component is impregnated on a surface of the adsorbent support; and wherein the metal component effects the removal of sulfur and vanadium from a hydrocarbon fuel. Also disclosed herein is a sorbent composition comprising an adsorbent support, wherein a surface of the adsorbent support has been chemically modified to comprise functional groups; and wherein the adsorbent support effects the removal of sulfur and vanadium from a hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A method of regenerating adsorbent material includes providing a spent adsorbent material and contacting the adsorbent material with a solvent composition to facilitate removing oil and impurities from the spent solvent material.

Abstract: A method of removing impurities from heavy fuel includes providing a first stationary adsorption column. The method further includes packing adsorbent particles that have a particle size distribution wherein at least about 50% of the particles have a diameter greater than about 18 microns in the first column. The method further includes diluting heavy fuel with a solvent to form a solvent-fuel mixture, and supplying the solvent-fuel mixture through the first column to facilitate removing impurities from the mixture.

Abstract: A thermochromic ink composition comprises at least one thermochromic optical-state change material, at least one thermally responsive pH modifier, and at least one base and at least one binder material. The quantity of the thermally responsive pH modifier is less than or equal to about 0.25 milli moles based on the amount of optical-state change material. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to a thermal stimulus. The thermochromic ink composition may comprise a nitro dye. A thermochromic coating composition formed using the thermochromic ink composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one halochromic optical-state change material, at least one base, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material. The pH of the ink composition is such that the halochromic optical-state change material remains in its basic state until it is acted upon by a thermal stimulus. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon a change in pH caused by exposure to a thermal stimulus. A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one quaternary onium salt of an halochromic optical-state change material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material is also disclosed. Coating compositions prepared using these ink compositions and optical articles comprising these coating compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for deasphalting and extracting a hydrocarbon oil. The processes comprise providing an oil comprising asphaltenes and/or other impurities, combining the oil with a polar solvent an extracting agent to provide a mixture, and applying a stimulus to the mixture so that at least a portion of any asphaltenes and/or impurities in the oil precipitate out of the oil.

Abstract: A method for removing impurities from a feedstock comprising a hydrocarbon oil is provided. The method comprises contacting the feedstock with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the impurities, as well as contacting the feedstock with a Lewis acid under conditions effective so that any Lewis base impurity(ies) in the feedstock can react with the Lewis acid. Any impurities so oxidized and/or reacted are then removed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a sorbent composition including an adsorbent support; and a metal component comprising a transition metal, wherein the metal component is impregnated on a surface of the adsorbent support; and wherein the metal component effects the removal of sulfur and vanadium from a hydrocarbon fuel. Also disclosed herein is a sorbent composition comprising an adsorbent support, wherein a surface of the adsorbent support has been chemically modified to comprise functional groups; and wherein the adsorbent support effects the removal of sulfur and vanadium from a hydrocarbon fuel.

Abstract: A thermochromic ink composition comprises at least one thermochromic optical-state change material, at least one thermally responsive pH modifier, and at least one base and at least one binder material. The quantity of the thermally responsive pH modifier is less than or equal to about 0.25 milli moles based on the amount of optical-state change material. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to a thermal stimulus. The thermochromic ink composition may comprise a nitro dye. A thermochromic coating composition formed using the thermochromic ink composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one halochromic optical-state change material, at least one base, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material. The pH of the ink composition is such that the halochromic optical-state change material remains in its basic state until it is acted upon by a thermal stimulus. The ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon a change in pH caused by exposure to a thermal stimulus. A thermally responsive ink composition consisting of at least one quaternary onium salt of an halochromic optical-state change material, at least one solvent, and at least one binder material is also disclosed. Coating compositions prepared using these ink compositions and optical articles comprising these coating compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method is provided for purifying a hydrocarbon oil comprising a quantity of impurities. A Lewis acid solution comprising a Lewis acid and an aprotic solvent is added to the hydrocarbon oil having the plurality of impurities, e.g. sulfur, vanadium, and nickel impurities, to form a mixture. Complexes are formed between the Lewis acid of the Lewis acid solution and a respective one of the impurities in the mixture. The mixture is separated into a first layer that comprises a purified fraction of the hydrocarbon oil and a second layer comprising the complexes dissolved in the aprotic solvent.

Abstract: A method of regenerating adsorbent material includes providing a spent adsorbent material and contacting the adsorbent material with a solvent composition to facilitate removing oil and impurities from the spent solvent material.

Abstract: A method of removing impurities from heavy fuel includes providing a first stationary adsorption column. The method further includes packing adsorbent particles that have a particle size distribution wherein at least about 50% of the particles have a diameter greater than about 18 microns in the first column. The method further includes diluting heavy fuel with a solvent to form a solvent-fuel mixture, and supplying the solvent-fuel mixture through the first column to facilitate removing impurities from the mixture.

Abstract: System and method for improved solvent recovery in a dry cleaning device includes a washer drum, a cleaning basket disposed in the washer drum and configured to receive articles and a solvent based cleaning fluid, a working tank configured to receive the solvent based cleaning fluid used in the washer drum and cleaning basket, an air management mechanism configured to drain cleaning fluid condensate produced from the washer drum and cleaning basket directly into the working tank, and a low mixing pump configured to pump the solvent based cleaning fluid from the cleaning basket to the working tank, the low mixing pump characterized by a Reynolds number of about 15,000 or less, wherein the Reynolds number is determined as a function of one or more properties associated with an impeller of the low mixing pump.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is directed to a treatment method for reducing the level of metallic and nonmetallic impurities in an oil. The method includes the step of contacting the oil with a porous silica adsorbent material. The adsorbent material is characterized by a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area value (total) of at least about 15 m2/g; and a Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH) pore volume (total) of at least about 0.5 cc/g.

Abstract: A method of regenerating an adsorbent used to remove nickel and/or vanadium impurities from fuel comprise washing the adsorbent with a low boiling solvent, heating the adsorbent in a device to a temperature of about 300° C. to about 700 C wherein the adsorbent comprises nickel and/or vanadium impurities, and fluidly mixing the adsorbent with a carrier gas stream to remove at least a portion of the nickel and/or vanadium impurities from the adsorbent.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article cleaning apparatus comprising an air management mechanism, a cleaning basket assembly, a fluid regeneration device, a working fluid device, a clean fluid device, and a controller. The working fluid device is coupled to the fluid regeneration device, the cleaning basket assembly, and the air management mechanism. The clean fluid device is coupled to the cleaning basket assembly and the fluid regeneration device. The controller is coupled to the air management mechanism, the cleaning basket assembly, the working fluid device, the regeneration device, and the clean fluid device. The controller is configured to control a cleaning process. The present invention also provides a method for performing the cleaning process.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering and purifying a solvent used in an article cleaning appliance are provided. The method allows passing solvent-based cleaning fluid from a wash basket through a coarse filter configured to remove relatively large particulates from the cleaning fluid. The method further allows passing cleaning fluid from the coarse filter through a particulate filter configured to remove relatively fine particulates from the cleaning fluid. An aqueous phase that may be present in the cleaning fluid is separated by decanting and coalescing through a separator/filter assembly. The cleaning fluid may then be passed through a regeneration cartridge for removing any water that may remain in the cleaning fluid, and for adsorbing organic contaminants that may be present in the cleaning fluid. Recovered solvent may be stored in a tank for subsequent use in a cleaning process performed by the appliance.

Abstract: Aromatic polyethers are prepared by displacement polymerization reaction in the presence of a water-immiscible solvent with boiling point at atmospheric pressure of greater than 110° C. and a density ratio to water of greater than 1.1:1 at 20-25° C. The polyethers are purified by processes comprising aqueous extraction, or filtration, or a combination thereof.