Abstract: An enhanced hydraulic fluid comprises a conventional hydraulic fluid in combination with a predetermined amount of benzene by volume relative to the conventional hydraulic fluid. The predetermined amount of benzene preferably comprises between about 1.0% to about 20.0% benzene by volume, more preferably between about 1.5% to about 10.0% benzene by volume, and most preferably between about 2.0% to about 5.0% benzene by volume. The conventional hydraulic fluid may comprise electronics coolant liquids and oils. Conventional hydraulic fluids that may be mixed with benzene in the volumes described above include, but are not limited to, FLUORINERTS™ that include FC-43 and FC-70, including any perfluorinated, partially fluorinated, or partially chlorinated alkane with between about 3 to about 18 carbon atoms; mineral oils that include CAPELLA™ brand mineral oil; esther oils (synthetic or natural) that include formidals, and MIDEL™ brand esther oils.

Abstract: A firelighter comprising a solidified emulsion of a liquid hydrocarbon encapsulated in polymerised aqueous resin, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is present in an amount of 30 to 75% by weight of the firelighter, and wherein the firelighter also contains petroleum coke in particulate form.

Abstract: A firelighter comprising a solidified emulsion of a liquid hydrocarbon encapsulated in polymerised aqueous resin, wherein the liquid hydrocarbon is present in an amount of 30 to 75% by weight of the firelighter, and wherein the firelighter also contains starch.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, the present provides a heat transfer medium that includes, but is not limited to a base fluid, a plurality of single-walled carbon nanotubes, and a gelling formulation formed of an amine surfactant, an intercalating agent, and an oxygen-bearing solvent. The heat transfer medium is adapted for improved thermal conductivity with respect to the base fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of improving a heavy hydrocarbon, such as bitumen, to a lighter more fluid product and, more specifically, to a final hydrocarbon product that is refinery-ready and meets pipeline transport criteria without the addition of diluent. A solid asphaltene by-product is created for easy handling and further processing. The invention is targeted to enhance Canadian bitumen, but has general application in improving any heavy hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A fuel mixture for fuel cells, comprising a gelled product containing at least a fuel and a gelling agent, in which reliquefaction for the fuel of the gelled product is brought about in the coexistence with a reliquefying agent; and a method of extracting a fuel for fuel cells, including: providing a gel structure in which a fuel is incorporated into a network structure of a gelling agent, with a reliquefying agent dispersed therein; adding a reliquefaction inducing agent to the gel structure to make the reliquefying agent break the network structure of the gelling agent, and thereby reliquefying and extracting the fuel.

Abstract: Fuel compositions, methods of making the compositions, and fuel cell systems including a fuel composition are disclosed. In some embodiments, a fuel composition includes a polymer, and a fuel such as methanol, wherein the composition has a hardness of at least about 2 grams peak force, as determined by penetration test using a texture analyzer.

Abstract: An oil-containing solid in which liquid oil is contained in a large amount and from which oil seepage is slight; and a process for producing the same. The oil-containing solid is produced by impregnating a porous solid with a W/O emulsion. Further, use is made of the W/O emulsion having a water-soluble gellable substance incorporated in the water phase thereof. Consequently, the water-soluble gellable substance is converted to a gel in pores of the porous solid, thereby enhancing the liquid oil leakage preventing effect of the W/O emulsion.

Abstract: The present invention provides a decorative gel containing crystals that form in situ in the gel from an additive. The additive is an aromatic solid or mixture of aromatic solids and may optionally include an oil-soluble ester that aids solubilization of the aromatic compound(s) in a gel-forming material, while allowing crystallization of the aromatic compound(s) after gelation. The present invention also provides articles of manufacture like candles and sustained release air fresheners containing the gel.

Abstract: The present invention is a candle. The candle includes a container having a bottom and a side wall defining a cavity and a top rim delimited by the side wall, a first region containing a material that is opaque at room temperature, which material is disposed within the cavity of the container, a second region containing a polymer-oil blend that is substantially transparent at room temperature, which is disposed within the cavity of the container and adjacent to the first region; and a wick disposed within the container, which passes through both the first and second regions. A process for making such a candle is also provided.

Abstract: Gelled hydrocarbon compositions are provided which include a low molecular weight triblock polymer and a medium molecular weight triblock polymer. These gels can be used to make clear candles.

Abstract: This invention relates to a novel synergistic reversible solid/semi-solid organic composition, said composition comprising (a) at least one saturated long chain fatty acid and/or its glycerol esters and (b) one or more liquid neutral organic compounds, said ingredients (a) and (b) being present in a ratio between 0.1 to 40% by weight, and a process for producing said synergistic reversible solid/semi-solid organic composition by mixing the ingredients (a) and (b) defmed above in a ratio between 0.1 to 40% by weight, at a temperature between 2 to 50° C. and at a pressure in the range of 200 torr to 2500 torr.

Abstract: An object is to provide a wax composition for candles which is excellent in moldability in the production of the candles, enables the candles produced therefrom to be reduced in the bending and blocking, and which can be improved in releasability. A wax composition for forming candles, which comprises 100 parts by weight of petroleum paraffin wax and 0.1 to 0.3 parts by weight of a mineral oil, with said petroleum paraffin wax containing 97% by weight and above of a fraction which has 24 and above carbon atoms, having normal paraffin wax/non-normal paraffin wax ratios of at least 9 and having a melting point of 45 to 65.degree. C.

Abstract: Method and composition for gel formation in hydrocarbon recovery, in which an organic phosphate ester is gelled by a novel activator composition comprising iron sulfate, dibutylaminoethanol, and a phosphate surfactant.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the formation of organic gels by dissolving organic gelling agents in organic solvents. The aryl cyclohexanol gelling agents employed in this invention are not structurally related to previously known gellation agents and they exhibit potent gellation activity, for example, from 0.2-5%, by weight, of gelling agent is able to immobilize a variety of organic solvents. The gels formed range from optically transparent to slightly translucent, and complete fluidity can be restored by either increasing the temperature (reversible) or by chemical treatment (irreversible).

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the formation of organic gels by dissolving organic gelling agents in organic solvents. The aryl cyclohexanol gelling agents employed in this invention are not structurally related to previously known gellation agents and they exhibit potent gellation activity, for example, from 0.2-5%, by weight, of gelling agent is able to immobilize a variety of organic solvents. The gels formed range from optically transparent to slightly translucent, and complete fluidity can be restored by either increasing the temperature (reversible) or by chemical treatment (irreversible).

Abstract: This invention involves a process for improving the energy and ignitability of a metal slurry gel rocket fuel by the use of an energetic metal compound of higher energy than the parent metal. An energetic metal compound is added slowly to a liquid rocket fuel with appropriate stirring to form a suspension of the metallic compound in the liquid fuel. To this is added a small quantity of a gelling agent, such as silicon dioxide, with stirring, to form an energetic metal fuel gel. The energetic metal compound is prepared by using a high purity metal in the form of a wire. As an example, a sample of aluminum wire weighing 2.26 grams is supplied with an external source of high voltage and amperes, while the wire is in an environment of an inert gas (e.g., argon) under about 40 atmospheres pressure, to achieve electrical explosion of the wire. The product produced is a fine, gray, non-conductive powder in high yield. This powder contains aluminum and argon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation by rapidly viscosifying a normally liquid hydrocarbon. The method is accomplished by admixing (i) an alkyl orthophosphate acid ester and (ii) an alkali metal hydroxide present in an amount sufficient to at least partially neutralize said ester and (iii) a reaction product resulting from the reaction of a source of aluminum or ferric ions with a C.sub.8 -C.sub.18 surface active amine solubilized in the presence of an organic solvent such as a C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 monohydric alcohol with the normally liquid hydrocarbon. The mixture rapidly viscosifies to a level sufficient to transport proppant and then can be introduced into a subterranean formation to treat the formation in a desired manner.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use, transport, storage, recovery and re-use of chemical compounds. In particular, the invention is directed to a method for reversibly transforming organic compounds into a phase more suitable for subsequent handling but from which the original organic compounds can be readily recovered. The invention is particularly suited for, but not limited to, the recovery and re-use of liquid hydrocarbons, either naturally occurring or synthetic, and/or their derivatives, and it is expected to be especially useful in the recovery of hydrocarbons from an oil spill.

Abstract: A method of producing a gel of an organic liquid, using a metal phosphate ester in which all of the reagents are substantially free of water and pH-affecting substances. The gel is particularly useful in fracturing subterranean formations by entraining a solid particulate proppant therein and pumping the resultant mixture into the subterranean rock formation at sufficient pressure to fracture the formation. The organic liquid is preferably a hydrocarbon such as diesel or crude oil, and the metal phosphate ester is preferably an aluminum phosphate diester. The metal phosphate diester may be prepared by the reaction of a triester with P.sub.2 O.sub.5 to produce a polyphosphate, which is then reacted with an alcohol to produce a phosphate diester. The latter diester is then added to the organic liquid along with a non-aqueous source of aluminum, such as aluminum isopropoxide in diesel, to produce the metal phosphate diester.

Abstract: An improved hydrocarbon gelling agent is disclosed comprising the reaction product of (1) a polyphosphate intermediate produced by reacting triethyl phosphate and phosphorous pentoxide and (2) a mixed alcohol having a substantial hexanol component, together with methods of making and using such gelling agent.

Abstract: Means and methods of producing catalytically coated microspheres of hydrocarbon fuel in a tower into which precharged free floating initially frozen globules of hydrocarbon fuel are drawn through a catalytic plasma field by an attracting electrostatic force disposed thereabove for catalytic coating and partial neutralization of the globule precharge until the coated globules descends in response to gravitational forces through the plasma field into a container disposed therebeneath.

Abstract: A low emissions "clean" diesel fuel and methods of producing a clean diesel fuel are provided. In one aspect, this invention relates to a method of producing a diesel fuel which provides reduced, or at least substantially equivalent, emissions of oxides of nitrogen ("NO.sub.x ") In another aspect this invention relates to a clean diesel fuel composition which is economical to produce, meets regulatory specifications, and has desirable characteristics including acceptable aromatics content and cetane number.