US PATENT SUBCLASS 516 / 141
.~.~.~ Aqueous-petroleum, petroleum-aqueous, aqueous-hydrocarbon, or hydrocarbon-aqueous emulsion systems

Current as of: June, 1999
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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  DF  .~ Continuous liquid phase colloid system and discontinuous liquid phase (e.g., breaking an emulsion) {4}
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}
141.~.~.~ Aqueous-petroleum, petroleum-aqueous, aqueous-hydrocarbon, or hydrocarbon-aqueous emulsion systems {2}
142  DF  .~.~.~.~> The agent contains both organic and inorganic (except water) material
143  DF  .~.~.~.~> The agent contains organic compound {5}

DEFINITION

Classification: 516/141

Aqueous-petroleum, petroleum-aqueous, aqueous-hydrocarbon, or hydrocarbon-aqueous emulsion systems:

(under subclass 139) Subject matter in which the emulsion system is aqueous-petroleum*, petroleum*-aqueous, aqueous-hydrocarbon, or hydrocarbon-aqueous.

(1) Note. Subject matter relating to breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of an emulsion which does not exist as an emulsion at standard temperature and pressure, for example an emulsion of melted wax in an aqueous continuous phase at an elevated temperature, is proper for this and indented subclasses.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

113, for breaking (resolving) or inhibiting of solid or semi-solid bituminous material* in suspensions, or of gels, such as asphalt or paraffin wax.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

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. 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 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).

210, Liquid Purification or Separation,

708, for processes in which an emulsion is treated by a chemical or physical agent to cause the discontinuous phase to coalesce, and cross-reference art collections 922+ for oil spill cleanup (e.g., cross-reference art collection 925 for using chemical agent).

435, Chemistry: Molecular Biology and Microbiology,

262+, for processes of resolving colloid systems which include fermentation (especially 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 which may involve breaking emulsions), subclasses 283.1+ for Class apparatus.

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.