Compositions useful for oil extraction

Abstract

The present invention relates to compositions comprising a plant material, and methods for using the same in extracting or removing a hydrocarbon-containing substance from a substrate or remediating a substrate.

1 . An aqueous composition comprising:
 a mixture obtained by (a) allowing water in an amount of about 10 wt % to about 95 wt % of the aqueous composition, corn gluten meal in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % of the aqueous composition, and an inorganic base in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 15 wt % of the aqueous composition to (i) stir at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 2 hours to about 4 hours or (ii) stand at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 10 minutes to about 8 hours, and (b) removing undissolved solids from the mixture;   0% to about 10 wt % of an alcohol;   0% to about 10 wt % of an organic or inorganic salt;   0% to about 10 wt % of an organic or inorganic acid; and   0% to about 10 wt % of an additive;   
       wherein
 the aqueous composition has a pH of about 13; 
 the alcohol is a C 1  to C 3  alcohol, a glycol, a glycol ether, an aminoalcohol or an aromatic alcohol; 
 the additive is a detergent, a surface tension modifier, a flocculant, a dispersant, a rheology modifier or an emulsifier; and 
 the inorganic base is sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. 
 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the salt is sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, magnesium bromide, ammonium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, calcium iodide, magnesium iodide, ammonium iodide, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium sulfate or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the acid is citric acid, formic acid, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, adipic acid, tannic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the additive is Type S Hydrated Lime. 
     
     
         10 .- 72 . (canceled) 
     
     
         73 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is obtained by allowing water, corn gluten meal and the inorganic base to (i) stir at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 2 hours to about 4 hours and (ii) stand at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 10 minutes to about 8 hours. 
     
     
         74 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , wherein the corn gluten meal is suspended or substantially dissolved in the mixture. 
     
     
         75 . The aqueous composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a substrate. 
     
     
         76 . The aqueous composition of  claim 75 , wherein the substrate is soil, sand, beach sand, oil sand, heavy-oil sand, rock, wood, paper, skin, water, gravel, mud, clay, plant, hair, fabric, class, porcelain, concrete or metal. 
     
     
         77 . The aqueous composition of  claim 75 , wherein the substrate contains or has on its surface a hydrocarbon-containing substance. 
     
     
         78 . The aqueous composition of  claim 77 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing substance is grease, oil, heavy oil, crude oil, refined oil, shale oil, bitumen, coal tar, synthetic oil, automotive oil, oil from oil sand, oil obtained from hydraulic fracturing, oil from the skin of an animal or natural gas liquid. 
     
     
         79 . An aqueous composition comprising:
 a mixture obtained by (a) allowing water in an amount of about 10 wt % to about 95 wt % of the aqueous composition, corn gluten meal in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 50 wt % of the aqueous composition, and an inorganic base in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 15 wt % of the aqueous composition to (i) stir at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 2 hours to about 4 hours or (ii) stand at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 10 minutes to about 8 hours;   0% to about 10 wt % of an alcohol;   0% to about 10 wt % of an organic or inorganic salt;   0% to about 10 wt % of an organic or inorganic acid;   0% to about 10 wt % of an additive; and   a substrate that contains or has on its surface a hydrocarbon-containing substance;   wherein   the aqueous composition has a pH of about 13;   the alcohol is a C 1  to C 3  alcohol, a glycol, a glycol ether, an aminoalcohol or an aromatic alcohol;   the additive is a detergent, a surface tension modifier, a flocculant, a dispersant, a rheology modifier or an emulsifier; and   the inorganic base is sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.   
     
     
         80 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the alcohol is ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol. 
     
     
         81 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the salt is sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, ammonium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium bromide, calcium bromide, magnesium bromide, ammonium bromide, sodium iodide, potassium iodide, calcium iodide, magnesium iodide, ammonium iodide, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, ammonium sulfate or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         82 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the acid is citric acid, formic acid, ascorbic acid, acetic acid, malic acid, adipic acid, tannic acid, lactic acid, fumaric acid, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         83 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the additive is Type S Hydrated Lime. 
     
     
         84 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the mixture is obtained by allowing the water, corn gluten meal and the inorganic base to (i) stir at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 2 hours to about 4 hours and (ii) stand at about 10° C. to about 100° C. for about 10 minutes to about 8 hours. 
     
     
         85 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the corn gluten meal is suspended or substantially dissolved in the mixture. 
     
     
         86 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the substrate is soil, sand, beach sand, oil sand, heavy-oil sand, rock, wood, paper, skin, water, gravel, mud, clay, plant, hair, fabric, class, porcelain, concrete or metal. 
     
     
         87 . The aqueous composition of  claim 79 , wherein the hydrocarbon-containing substance is grease, oil, heavy oil, crude oil, refined oil, shale oil, bitumen, coal tar, synthetic oil, automotive oil, oil from oil sand, oil obtained from hydraulic fracturing, oil from the skin of an animal or natural gas liquid.