GB589594A - Processes for the treatment of liquid fuels - Google Patents

Abstract

In the production of solid masses which incorporate a liquid, such as a liquid fuel, and for making expanded solid materials, an emulsion is formed and allowed to stand of which the dispersion medium contains all the ingredients necessary to cause it to solidify with the lapse of time, while the disperse phase remains liquid. A solid mass incorporating a liquid fuel, e.g., petrol, is produced by preparing an emulsion in which the fuel is the disperse phase, and the dispersion medium is a fluid composition which hardens on standing into a highly porous body in which the liquid is held, and from which it may be recovered by pressing, evaporation or heating. The composition may be an aqueous solution or dispersion which hardens by resinification and of the urea-aldehyde type, or a cement which reacts with water, and, in the case of fuel, casein hardened with an aldehyde may be used, but the fuel cannot in this case be recovered by pressure. In all the dispersion phases an emulsifying agent must be used such as aqueous dispersions of casein, glue, wetting agents and detergents such as the triethanolamine salt of a sulphonated coconut oil, and sodium laucyl sulphonate. Glue plasticizers such as glycerol, benzyl alcohol, iso-butyl alcohol or ethylene glycol yield an extremely fine texture. Fillers such as wood flour yield a softer product. In one example, urea, formaldehyde, ammoniacal casein, the triethanolamine salt, and ammonium thiocyanate (catalyst) are mixed and emulsified with aviation petrol or benzol, and hardening takes place in 2-3 hours. When making an expanded solid the benzol is evaporated. When using Portland cement, an equal amount of water in which bentonite is dispersed is added, an emulsion being made with oleic acid and benzol, the latter being subsequently removed by evaporation.ALSO:In the production of expanded solid materials, an emulsion is formed and allowed to stand of which the dispersion medium contains all the ingredients necessary to cause it to solidify with the lapse of time, while the disperse phase remains liquid. A solid mass incorporating a liquid fuel, e.g., petrol, is produced by preparing an emulsion in which the fuel is the disperse phase, and the dispersion medium is a fluid composition which hardens on standing into a highly porous body in which the liquid is held, and from which it may be recovered by pressing, evaporation or heating. The uncoated mass can be utilised as a firelighter, incendiary, or smoke-producing composition, but the product may be coated with paint, lacquer, cellulose esters and the like, or protected by bags or boxes. Handles of wire or string inserted into the emulsion will be retained by the latter on hardening. The dry product is suitable for use in heat and sound insulation, for the filtration of liquids and gases, and as a support for catalysts. The composition may be an aqueous solution or dispersion which hardens by resinification and of the urea-aldehyde type, or a cement which reacts with water, and, in the case of fuel, casein hardened with an aldehyde may be used, but the fuel cannot in this case be recovered by pressure. In all the dispersion phases an emulsifying agent must be used such as aqueous dispersions of casein, glue, wetting agents and detergents such as the triethanolamine salt of a sulphonated coconut oil, and sodium lauryl sulphonate. glue plasticizers such as glycerol, benzyl alcohol, iso-butyl alcohol or ethylene glycol yield an extremely fine texture. Fillers such as wood flour yield a softer product. In one example, urea, formaldehyde, ammoniacal casein, the triethanolamine salt, the ammonium thiocyanate (catalyst) are mixed and emulsified with aviation petrol or benzol, and the benzol is evaporated. When using Portland cement, an equal amount of water in which bentonite is dispersed is added, an emulsion being made with oleic acid and benzol, the latter being subsequently removed by evaporation.