Optimization of a Method for Isolation of Paraffinic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method and composition for isolating a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer from a sludge comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons, water, and solids. The method includes contacting the sludge with isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, a cutter stock, and water. The isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate comprises a concentration of at least 1500 ppm. The ratio of sludge:cutter:water is at least 4:2:1. The method also includes determining if the sludge has separated into a three phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a paraffinic hydrocarbon isolating composition ratio, the method comprising:
 (A) contacting sludge comprising paraffinic hydrocarbons, water, and solids with isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, a cutter stock, and water thereby producing a sludge mixture, wherein the isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate comprises a concentration of at least 1500 ppm, wherein a volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water is at least 4:2:1;   (B) circulating the sludge mixture to maximize wax crystal formation of the paraffinic hydrocarbons and to break any water-in-oil or oil-in-water emulsions which may form; and   (C) determining if the sludge mixture has separated into a three phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids by way of viewing the sludge mixture to determine if three distinct phases are present.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the sludge mixture has not separated into the three phase separation, the concentration of isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate is increased to at least 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the sludge mixture has not separated into the three phase separation, the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water is adjusted to at least 4:4:1. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining if the sludge mixture has separated into the three phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids after adjustment of the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water to at least 4:4:1. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein if the sludge mixture has not separated into the three phase separation, the concentration of isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate is increased to at least 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the sludge mixture has not separated into a three phase separation, the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water is adjusted to at least 4:4:2. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising determining if the sludge mixture has separated into the three phase separation comprising a paraffinic hydrocarbon layer, a water layer, and a layer of settled solids after adjustment of the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water to at least 4:4:2. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein if the sludge mixture has not separated into the three phase separation, the concentration of isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate is increased to at least 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water is at least 4:4:1, and the concentration of isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate is at least 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the volume ratio of sludge:cutter stock:water is at least 4:4:2, and the concentration of isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate is at least 3000 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the sludge mixture has separated into the three phase separation, the paraffinic hydrocarbon layer is removed from contact with the water layer and the layer of settled solids. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising performing the Basic Sediment and Water Test of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D1796 on a recovered hydrocarbon resulting from the three phase separation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the basic sediment and water percentage of the paraffinic hydrocarbon layer is less than 5%, as measured by the Basic Sediment and Water Test of ASTM D1796. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating the sludge mixture after contacting the sludge with the isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate, the cutter stock, and the water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter stock is a light sweet oil with an American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity of 30 or greater. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cutter stock is a light cycle oil, a diesel oil, a light sweet crude oil, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a surfactant is added to the isopropylamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the surfactant comprises two or more surfactants. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein one of the surfactants is a zwitterionic surfactant, and the other surfactant is a nonionic surfactant. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the paraffinic hydrocarbon comprises a hydrocarbon of 18 to 34.