Composition and process for treating pollution

Abstract

A microemulsion composition for treatment of pollution comprises a first component including any non-toxic, non-flammable surfactant known in the art for emulsifying fats and oils. The second component is a water soluble ester. The third component is a carbon containing non-toxic, non-flammable stabilizer for diluting the composition to a viscosity suitable for spraying or otherwise distributing the emulsion safely and evenly onto or into petroleum contaminated water. The emulsion is assimilated by the contamination such that hydrocarbon in the petroleum/water medium forms an agglomerated solid phase whereby the entire petroleum medium is physically separable from the water.

1 . A composition for treatment of pollution comprising: 
 a first component comprising a non-toxic, non-flammable, carbon containing substance in an oil phase;    a second component comprising a non-toxic, non-flammable, ester containing substance in a water phase, the second component being formed as a microemulsion within the first component; and    a third component comprising a diluent added to the first and second components, the diluent comprising a non-toxic, non-flammable carbon containing compound which is soluble in the first component and is selected to facilitate viscosity stabilization for extended storage.    
     
     
         2 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first component is a straight chained lipophilic carbon source surfactant.  
     
     
         3 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first component is selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, esters, alcohols and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first component comprises an acid selected from the group consisting oleic acid, stearic acid and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first component comprises an external phase and the second component is an internal phase, the external and internal phases of the composition being in the form of a microemulsion.  
     
     
         6 . A composition as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the microemulsion comprises droplets having a size of about 20 to about 400 angstroms.  
     
     
         7 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the carbon in the first component provides an initial source of carbon for agglomerating hydrocarbons in a water-borne petroleum pollution site being treated.  
     
     
         8 . A composition as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the second component provides an additional source of carbon for agglomerating hydrocarbons in a water-borne petroleum pollution site being treated.  
     
     
         9 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third component is present in the composition in the amount of about 10 to about 50 weight percent.  
     
     
         10 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third component is butyl carbitol [2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol].  
     
     
         11 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  comprising about 15 weight percent to about 65 weight percent carbon and less than 1 weight percent to about 40 weight percent ester.  
     
     
         12 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said ester containing substance of said second component is phosphate ester.  
     
     
         13 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third component acts as a stabilizer that maintains the first and second components in suspension as a pourable and sprayable liquid with a shelf life of 12 months or more in a 40° F. to 100° F. environment.  
     
     
         14 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the composition is both non-toxic as defined by the reporting requirements of Section 313 Title III of SARA (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986) and non-flammable with a flash point above 100° F.  
     
     
         15 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third component is present in sufficient amounts so as to facilitate the even application of the composition to a pollution area.  
     
     
         16 . A composition as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the third component is present in sufficient amounts so as to reduce the viscosity of the composition to less than 200 cps to allow delivery of the composition by spray or other dispersion methods.  
     
     
         17 . A composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the third component is selected so as to maintain a flashpoint for the composition above 100° F.