US PATENT SUBCLASS 516 / 135
.~ Continuous liquid phase colloid system and discontinuous liquid phase (e.g., breaking an emulsion)

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516 /   HD   COLLOID SYSTEMS AND WETTING AGENTS; SUBCOMBINATIONS THEREOF; PROCESSES OF

113  DF  COMPOSITIONS CONTAINING AN AGENT FOR BREAKING (RESOLVING) OR INHIBITING COLLOID SYSTEMS; PROCESSES OF BREAKING (RESOLVING) OR INHIBITING COLLOID SYSTEMS (E.G., GEL BREAKING OR INHIBITING, COAGULATING, FLOCCULATING); PROCESSES OF PREPARING THE COMPOSITIONS {3}
135.~ Continuous liquid phase colloid system and discontinuous liquid phase (e.g., breaking an emulsion) {4}
136  DF  .~.~> Breaking (resolving) or inhibiting occurs on the surface of a solid agent (e.g., adsorbent, absorbent, differential adherence surface, filter, sharp edged particles) {2}
139  DF  .~.~> The agent contains material which is different from the primary components of both liquid phases of the emulsion colloid system (i.e., more than only diluting) {2}
194  DF  .~.~> Breaking (resolving) or inhibiting by vaporizing, heating, or cooling {2}
197  DF  .~.~> Breaking (resolving) or inhibiting by centrifuging, mechanical shocking, or specified agitating

DEFINITION

Classification: 516/135

Continuous liquid phase colloid system and discontinuous liquid phase (e.g., breaking an emulsion):

(under subclass 113) Subject matter in which the colloid system subject to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting is a continuous liquid phase with a discontinuous liquid phase, such as, an emulsion.

(1) Note. Dilution performed only with a material* which is the same as the primary component of one of the two liquid phases in order to effect breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of a colloid system and not combined with a step of vaporizing, heating, or cooling (as provided for below) and not combined with a step of centrifuging, mechanical shocking, or specified agitating (as provided for below) is proper for this subclass, there being no indented subclass providing for this subject matter. Dilution combined with adding material*, dissimilar from the primary component of either of the two liquid phases, for breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of a colloid system (such as using the diluent as

a solvent/carrier for the dissimilar agent*), is located with the agent* in a hereinunder indented subclass; see SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS for some suggestions.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

113, for similar subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of colloid systems other than smokes or fogs (as provided for in subclass 114) or foams (as provided for in subclasses 115+), such as, with a continuous liquid phase and a discontinuous solid phase (solid particle sols) or with a continuous solid phase (gels).

114, for similar subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of colloid systems with a continuous gas or vapor phase (fogs, smokes).

115+, for similar subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of colloid systems with a continuous liquid phase and a discontinuous gas or vapor phase (foams).

136+, for subject matter in which the breaking (resolving) or inhibiting agent* contains a solid surface functioning material*, i.e., solid adsorbent, absorbent, or differential adherence surface, such as, filter media, sharp edged particles. 139+, for subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of emulsions using an added material* dissimilar from the primary component of both liquid phases.

194+, for subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of emulsions using vaporizing, heating, or cooling, and without using an added material* dissimilar from the primary component of both liquid phases.

197, for subject matter related to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of emulsions using centrifuging, mechanical shocking, or specified agitating, and without using an added material* dissimilar from the primary component of both liquid phases.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

95, Gas Separation: Processes,

57+, for processes using electric or electrostatic field (e.g., electrostatic precipitation, etc.), subclasses 241+ for processes of degasification of a liquid (subclass 242 for defoaming and subclass 253 for emulsion breaking or multiple liquid separating).

166, Wells,

244.1+, for processes of preventing emulsification or of breaking emulsions in a well, which includes significantly

claimed process steps of well treating or well operation. See also the Notes and SEARCH CLASS references in Class 166 subclass 244.1 and in Class 507 Definition.

204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,

193+, for apparatus for electrical separation or purification of liquids, subclasses 450+ for processes of separating or purifying using electrophoresis or electro-osmosis (especially subclasses 456+ for processes of gel electrophoresis, subclass 514 for separation of hydrocarbon oil in an aqueous system (e.g., emulsion breaking)), subclasses 554+ for processes (e.g., electrostatic separation of a liquid) involving (a) electrical (including simultaneous electrical and magnetic) separation or purification of a liquid, or (b) magnetic treatment, per se, when some effect other than mere separation is desired or produced (especially subclasses 563+ for process which involves breaking emulsion or dispersion by agglomerating or accreting suspended constituents in a predominantly hydrocarbon liquid, subclass 573 for process which involves breaking emulsion or dispersion by agglomerating or accreting suspended constituents in other than a predominantly hydrocarbon liquid).

208, Mineral Oils: Processes and Products, 39+, for processes of removing water from asphalts, tars, pitches, or resins, subclasses 177+ for mere removal of a colloid system stabilizing agent from a mineral oil for the purpose of preventing formation of an emulsion or colloid system containing the mineral oil (particularly subclasses 179+ for processes of removing water from used mineral oils, subclasses 187+ for the separation of water emulsified with the oil, subclass 263 for removing undesirable organic acids or phenolic components from mineral oils. Class 516 provides for breaking of emulsions of mineral oil when not combined with some other treatment of the mineral oil, i.e., Class 516 provides for effecting breaking or inhibiting by merely adding an agent* for that purpose and permitting or causing separation (e.g., by settling).

435, Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology,

262+, for processes in which preexisting material or compound, which may include a hazardous or toxic waste, present in a composition or material containing a preexisting material, is contacted with an enzyme or immobilized enzyme micro-organism or plant or animal cells to isolate or recover the preexisting material which is chemically unchanged by the process and the hazardous or toxic waste is destroyed (especially subclass 262.5 for processes wherein hazardous or toxic waste such as oil spill is destroyed or converted into an environmentally safe substance, subclass 266 for processes of using enzyme or microorganism to liberate, separate, or purify by treating gas, emulsion, or foam, subclasses 281+ for processes of recovering petroleum or shale oil), foreign

art collection FOR184 formethod of using genetically engineered cells other than hybrid or fused cells for oil spill cleanup.

507, Earth Boring, Well Treating, and Oil Field Chemistry, cross-reference art collection 921 for well treating composition intended to break an emulsion or gel or to uncrosslink a polymer.

520, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers, appropriate subclasses for (1) synthetic resins, per se, or (2) resin containing compositions, the use or utility of which is not specifically provided for elsewhere. The subject matter of the Class 520 series is hierarchically superior to Class 516 for placement of ORs (original reference).

1, of Class 520 is the residual subclass for solid resin containing subject matter. See various subclasses in the 520 series of classes for aqueous or organic dispersions, latexes, or gels, of a polymer or natural or synthetic rubber, and methods of making or treating same.

524, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers--Part of the Class 520 Series, cross-reference art collection 922 for flocculating, clarifying, or fining compositions.

528, Synthetic Resins or Natural Rubbers--Part of the Class 520 Series, cross-reference art collections 934+ for subject matter relating to recovery and physical processing of natural rubber latex (particularly cross-reference art collection 936 for coagulating).