82 



SCIENCE 



[Vol. LV, No. 1412 



made of the literature regarding emulsions and a 

 brief discussion is given of the main factors 

 influencing the properties and general behavior 

 of mineral oil-water emulsions. An experimental 

 investigation of these emulsions, -with special 

 reference to such as are likely to occur in prac- 

 tice, and to methods of breaking them, has been 

 made. The phenomenon of "inversion of phases" 

 has been studied and data regarding the influence 

 of the following factors on the nature and sta- 

 bility of various emulsions has been obtained: 

 (a) Nature of oil used; (&) Nature of emulsify- 

 ing agent; (c) Type of emulsion obtained; (d) 

 Inversion point and its relation to stability of 

 emulsions; (e) Industrial appUeations of above 

 results to technical emulsions. 



Emulsions with finely divided solids: T. E. 

 Briggs. The chief function of an emulsifying 

 agent is the formation of a viscous film at the 

 dinerie interface. Lowering of the surface ten- 

 sion is not essential and presumably plays no part 

 when finely divided solids serve as emulsifj'ing 

 agents. Oil in water and water in oil emulsions 

 may be produced with finely divided solids; in the 

 first type the solid must be wetted more strongly 

 by water than by oil, but in the second type it 

 must be wetted more strongly by oil. Certain 

 factors influencing the relative wetting are con- 

 sidered. It is also shown that solids tending to 

 form the first tj'pe of emulsion exert an ' ' antag- 

 onistic" effect on soUds tending to form the 

 second type of emulsion, the effect being entirely 

 analogous to Clowe 's antagonistic action between 

 soaps of sodium and calcium. 



Emulsifying agents in oil field emulsions: J. L. 

 Sheeeick. The presence of some third com- 

 ponent, usually a colloid, to serve as an emulsify- 

 ing agent is recognized by most workers as a 

 necessary condition for stable emulsion forma- 

 tion. Experimental results indicate that earthy 

 matter, carrying adsorbed asphalt, asphaltenes, 

 etc., and present in the oil as a hydrophobe col- 

 loid, functions as the emulsifying agent in oil 

 field emulsions. This conclusion is in line with 

 Richardson's work on Trinidad asphalt (J. Fliys. 

 Chem., 19, 245-6. 1915). Addition of certain 

 organic solvents decreases the adsorption of 

 asphalt on the earthy material and renders these 

 emulsions unstable. As the adsorbed asphalt is 

 removed the earthy matter ceases to be a hydro- 

 phobe colloid such as is necessary for the sta- 

 bilization of a water-in-oil emulsion. 



A short discussion on the formation of crude 

 oil and water emulsions: A. W. McCoy. 



Common Cliaraoteristics of crude petroleum 

 emulsions: E. E. Atres, Jr. This paper deals 

 with crude petroleum emulsions as they occur 

 industrially. It is pointed out that these emiil- 

 sions are comparatively uniform in properties. 

 The subsidence produced by gravity and by cen- 

 trifugal force is discussed and the two methods 

 compared for crude petroleum emulsions. The 

 coalescence produced by contact under the influ- 

 ence of gravity and high centrifugal force is in 

 tlie same degree. Three methods for producing 

 coalescence are discussed — heat, filtration and 

 colloid reactions. Heat is often incorrectly 

 applied. Properly used, heat will greatly assist 

 resolution. The filtration method described is 

 based on the principle of contact between water 

 globules and a medium more readily wetted by 

 water than by oil. The method of "colloid re- 

 actions" is based on the opposition of hydrophile 

 to the hydrophobe colloid. One may be neutral- 

 ized by the other so as to yield a zero stability. 

 The formation of reagents to accomplish such 

 reactions is discussed. 



Recovering petroleum from emulsions iy chem- 

 ical treatment: Ealph E. Matthews and 

 Philip A. Crosby. Satisfactory results are 

 shown which were obtained by treating tank bot- 

 toms (emulsified petroleum) with a chemical 

 known as Tret-O-Lite, which consists principally 

 of sodium oleate. An aqueous solution when 

 thoroughly mixed with the emulsion at 100-120° F. 

 causes it to separate and results in the recovery 

 of pipe line oil. A later development in the work 

 has resulted in a liquid compound produced by 

 sulphonating oleio acid and then making alkaUne 

 with caustic soda. This seems more effective, and 

 methods and results of commercial applications 

 to crude oil emulsions are shown. Experimental 

 work is now going on relative to producing and 

 using an oil soluble compound which will be more 

 effective than the above and more easily handled. 

 Oil field practice in handling crude oil emul- 

 sions: Sidney Born. The latest developments 

 in handling crude oil emulsions are described in 

 some detail. Eive different methods are dis- 

 cussed: The steaming plant, chemical treatment, 

 the Cottrell process, the centrifugal method and 

 the topping plant. The types of plants and 

 process most suitable for different fields and con- 

 ditions will be of interest to the practical opera- 

 tor. A new method developed by the writer is 

 described for handling large amounts of B. S. 

 Charles L. Parsons, 



Secretary 



