FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: SORBITOL BASED GELATORS AND METHOD THEREOF
2. Applicant(s)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
HINDUSTAN PETROLEUM
CORPORATION LTD.
Indian Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
Ltd, Petroleum House, 17
Jamshedji Tata Road, Churchgate,
Mumbai 400020, India
3. Preamble to the description
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it
is to be performed.
1
2
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The subject matter described herein in general relates to sugar-based compounds that are
able to form gels. The subject matter further relates to methods of making the sugar-based
compounds, and gels including such compounds. The sugar-based c 5 ompounds can be used to
control hydrocarbon spill by gel formation. The subject matter further relates to methods for
recovery of hydrocarbons and the sugar based compounds from the gel.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A gel can be defined as a solution in which the solid, also known as a gelator, is meshed
10 to form a rigid or semi-rigid mixture results. Depending on the structural nature of gel networks,
gels can be simply divided into chemical gels and physical gels. In the case of chemical gels, the
aggregation units at different levels are connected into three-dimensional networks via covalent
bonds whereas in physical gels, the molecules of a gelator aggregate into network structure via
various non-covalent interactions, which are considerably weaker than covalent bonds.
15 [0003] Physical gelation of water and solvents include polymers, micro- or nano-particles, and
low-molecular mass organic compounds (LMMGs). The gels formed by latter are named
supramolecular gels or molecular gels and can be used for gelation of oil from oil–water
mixtures for oil spill recovery. The spilled oil is transformed from a liquid into semi-solid or
rubber-like materials floating on the surface of water by introducing LMMGs into the oil
20 contaminated water.
[0004] Kar and co-workers have disclosed supramolecular hydrogelation of a composite
including single walled nanotubes (SWNTs) and amphiphilic dipeptide carboxylates (Chem.
Commun., 2012, 48, 8389–8391).
[0005] Kar and co-workers have disclosed dipeptide-based long-chain acids/salts capable of
25 efficiently gelating organic solvents and water. The xerogels prepared from the organogels
showed time-dependent adsorption of dyes such as crystal violet (Langmuir 2009, 25(15), 8639–
8648).
3
SUMMARY
[0006] The present disclosure relates to a compound having the Formula:
Formula I
wherein, R1and R2 are independently selected from H and C1 to C10 alkyl.. 5 The present disclosure
also relates to a method of preparing the compound of Formula I.
[0007] The present disclosure further relates to a gel comprising a compound of Formula I and a
solvent. The present disclosure further relates to a method of producing a gel comprising
contacting the compound of Formula I with a solvent.
10 [0008] The present disclosure further relates to a method of containing the spill of a
hydrocarbon, the method comprising contacting the hydrocarbon with the compound of Formula
I to obtain a gel. The present disclosure further relates to a method of reclaiming solvent from the
gel comprising a compound of Formula I and a solvent.
[0009] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present subject matter will be
15 better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. This
summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. This summary is
not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it
intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
20 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] Those skilled in the art will be aware that the present disclosure is subject to variations
and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the present
disclosure includes all such variations and modifications. The disclosure also includes all such
steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification,
25 individually or collectively and any and all combinations of any or more of such steps or
features.
4
Definitions
[0011] For convenience, before further description of the present disclosure, certain terms
employed in the specification, and examples are collected here. These definitions should be read
in the light of the remainder of the disclosure and understood as by a person of skill in the art.
The terms used herein have the meanings recognized and known 5 to those of skill in the art,
however, for convenience and completeness, particular terms and their meanings are set forth
below.
[0012] The articles “a”, “an” and “the” are used to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at
least one) of the grammatical object of the article.
10 [0013] The terms “comprise” and “comprising” are used in the inclusive, open sense, meaning
that additional elements may be included. Throughout this specification, unless the context
requires otherwise the word “comprise”, and variations, such as “comprises” and “comprising”,
will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of element or steps
but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of element or steps.
15 [0014] The term “including” is used to mean “including but not limited to”. “Including” and
“including but not limited to” are used interchangeably.
[0015] The term "hydrocarbon(s)" refers to organic compounds that are made of hydrogen and
carbon atoms. The source of the hydrocarbons may be from crude oils and refined petroleum
products. Crude oil and other petroleum fractions may include compounds with hetero atoms like
20 nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, halogens and metallic elements along with hydrocarbons.
[0016] The term "gel" refers to a colloidal suspension of a solid dispersed in liquid and appear
like semi solid.
[0017] The term “CRN” means cracked run naptha (mainly comes from the Fluidized Catalytic
Cracking (FCC) unit in the refinery).
25 [0018] The term “SRN” means straight run naphtha, which comes from direct distillation of
crude oil.
[0019] The term “diesel” means a specific fractional distillate of petroleum crude oil between
200 °C and 350 °C at atmospheric pressure.
[0020] Ratios, concentrations, amounts, and other numerical data may be presented herein in a
30 range format. It is to be understood that such range format is used merely for convenience and
brevity and should be interpreted flexibly to include not only the numerical values explicitly
5
recited as the limits of the range, but also to include all the individual numerical values or subranges
encompassed within that range as if each numerical value and sub-range is explicitly
recited. For example, a temperature range of about 140°Cto about 180°Cshould be interpreted to
include not only the explicitly recited limits of about140°C to about 180°C, but also to include
sub-ranges, such as 145°C to 155 °C, 150°C to 170°C, and so forth, 5 as well as individual
amounts, including fractional amounts, within the specified ranges, such as 142.2°C, 140.6°C,
and 141.3°C, for example.
[0021] The present disclosure relates to a class of amphiphilic gelators which can be used for
dual purpose as oil or hydrocarbon removal from water. These absorbed hydrocarbons can be
10 easily recovered from the gel including the amphiphilic gelators and oil by heating the gel. The
gelators have the potential for selective extraction of oil in water systems and water in oil
systems. In one implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the
Formula:
15 Formula I
wherein, R1 and R2 are independently selected from H and C1 to C10 alkyl.
[0022] The present disclosure also relates to a method of preparing the compound of Formula I.
[0023] The molecular gelators of Formula I can be used for the containment of spilled refinery
products such as straight run naphtha, gasoline, diesel fractions and crude oil individually and as
20 a mixture of oil and water emulsion.
[0024] The compounds of Formula I can be used for remediation of a release of spilled crude oil
or hydrocarbon.
[0025] In one implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the Formula:
6
Formula I
wherein, R1 and R2 are hydrogen.
[0026] In another implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the
5 Formula:
Formula I
wherein, R1 is hydrogen and R2 is C1 to C6 alkyl.
[0027] In yet another implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the
10 Formula:
Formula I
wherein, R1 is C1 to C6 alkyl and R2 is hydrogen.
[0028] In one implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the Formula:
7
Formula I
wherein, R1 and R2 are C1 to C6 alkyl.
[0029] In one implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the Formula:
5
Formula I
wherein, R1 and R2 are is C1 alkyl.
[0030] In another implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the
Formula:
10
Formula I
wherein, R1 and R2 are is C2 alkyl.
[0031] In one implementation, the present disclosure relates to a compound having the Formula
shown below with substituents shown in the Table 2:
8
Table 1
Compound IUPAC names R1 R2
1 (1-(2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-
[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxin-4-yl)ethane-
1,2-diol)
H H
2 (1-(2,6-dimethyl-2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-
[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxin-4-yl)ethane-
1,2-diol)
-CH3 -CH3
3 (1-(2,6-diethyl-2,6-diphenyltetrahydro-
[1,3]dioxino[5,4-d][1,3]dioxin-4-yl)ethane-
1,2-diol)
-CH2CH3 -CH2CH3
5
[0032] In one implementation, the present disclosure provides a process for the preparation of
compound Formula I, the process comprising the steps of: mixing a non-polar solvent and a polar
solvent to obtain first solution, contacting sorbitol and a reagent to obtain a second solution,
adding second solution to the first solution to obtain a solution and reacting the solution with a
second reactant to 10 obtain the desired product.
[0033] In another implementation, the non-polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of
cyclohexane, hexane and heptane.
[0034] In one implementation, the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of
methanol, ethanol, propanol and isopropanol.
15 [0035] In another implementation, the present disclosure provides a process for the preparation
of compound Formula I, wherein the step of adding second solution to the first solution to obtain
9
a solution is done at a temperature range of 60-1000C for 5-20 mins, preferably at a temperature
of 70-900C for 5-15 mins and most preferably at a temperature of 800C for 10 mins.
[0036] In another implementation, the reagent is selected from the group consisting of p-TsOH
and dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid.
[0037] In another implementation, the second reactant is selected 5 from the group consisting of
benzaldehyde, acetophenone, and phenyl ethyl ketone.
[0038] The process for the preparation of compound Formula I further comprises the purification
step.
[0039] In one implementation, the compounds of Formula I and gels synthesized therefrom can
10 be used in applications, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery, separation of biomolecules,
and stimulus-responsive advanced materials.
[0040] The compounds of Formula I can be used to form gels having numerous applications. In
one implementation, the compounds of Formula I can be added to one or more solvents in order
to produce a gel. In another implementation, the compounds of Formula I can be added to a
15 solvent in order to produce a gel. The present disclosure also relates to method for producing a
gel comprising contacting the compound of Formula I with a solvent. The term solvent refers to
a polar solvent, non-polar solvent and mixtures thereof. In another implementation, the solvent
comprises water, an organic solvent, or mixtures thereof. Solvents can be nonpolar such as, for
example, hydrocarbons like pentane, cyclopentane, hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene,
20 xylene, 1,4-dioxane, chloroform, diethyl ether or mixtures thereof. In one implementation, the
solvents can be polar, aprotic solvents such as, for example, dichloromethane, tetrahydrofuran,
ethyl acetate, acetone, dimethylformamide, acetonitrile, pyridine, carbon disulfide, benzonitrile,
or dimethyl sulfoxide. In another implementation, the solvent can be polar protic solvents such as
alcohols and carboxylic acids including, but not limited to, formic acid, n-butanol, isopropanol,
25 n-propanol, ethanol, methanol, acetic acid, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, or water.
Mixtures of solvents can also be used herein. In one implementation, the solvent can be a
mixture of water with a hydrocarbon. In another implementation, the solvent is a hydrocarbon. In
another implementation, the solvent is selected from crude oil, or a petroleum product.
[0041] The present disclosure also relates to method of containing the spill of a hydrocarbon, the
30 method comprising contacting the hydrocarbon with the compound of Formula I to obtain a gel.
10
[0042] In one implementation, a method of recovering crude oil, or petroleum product from a
spill of crude oil, or the petroleum product comprises: (a) forming a gel comprising the crude oil,
or the petroleum product and a compound of formula I; (b) collecting the gel; and (c) reclaiming
the crude oil or the petroleum product from the gel.
[0043] In another implementation, method of reclaiming solvent an 5 d a compound of Formula I
from the gel comprising the solvent and the compound of Formula I.
Examples
[0044] The disclosure will now be illustrated with working examples, which is intended to
10 illustrate the working of disclosure and not intended to take restrictively to imply any limitations
on the scope of the present disclosure. Other examples are also possible which are within the
scope of the present disclosure.
Example 1
Synthesis of compound of Formula I
15 [0045] The compounds of Formula I were synthesized according to Scheme 1.
Scheme 1
[0046] Compounds 1-3 are bis-acetals of sorbitol where four hydroxyl groups are protected by
aromatic aldehyde or by ketones. These sorbitol based gelator compounds were synthesized by
20 Scheme 2. In a typical process, 60 mL cyclohexane was added to a round bottomed flask
followed by 15 mL of MeOH and kept under N2 atmosphere. D-Sorbitol (5 g, 27.5 mmol) and p-
TsOH (0.5 g, 2.7mmol) was added to the solvent mixture and heated to 80⁰C for 10 min. Then
benzaldehyde (5.6 ml, 55 mmol) was added to the former solution and the whole mixture was
refluxed at 80⁰C for 2 hours. After the reaction, solvent was removed under reduced pressure on
25 a rotary evaporator to obtain white solid. The solid was washed with DCM followed by water
and filtered to collect the precipitate which was collected and dried. The product was obtained as
11
a white solid in 90% yield. 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3, rt): δ =7.64-7.60 (dd,4H), 7.55-7.52 (t, 2H),
7.44-7.37 (m, 4H),4.29-3.33 ��m, 8H��
[0047] Compound 2 was also synthesized following the same reaction procedure as that of
previous reaction but using acetophenone (55 mmol) instead of benzaldehyde. The reaction was
performed for 24 hours. The mixture thus obtained after 5 reaction was subjected to washing by
DCM and water and the product was isolated as a white solid after drying in 73% yield.1H NMR
(500 MHz, CDCl3, rt): δ =7.92-7.87 (d, 4H), 7.54-7.50 (t, 2H), 7.45-7.41 (t, 4H), 4.26-3.43 ��m, 8H������
1.69 (s, 6H).
[0048] Compound 3 was also synthesized following the reaction procedure as that of compound
10 1 but using phenyl ethyl ketone (55 mmol) instead of benzaldehyde. The reaction was performed
for 24 hours. The mixture thus obtained after reaction was subjected to washing by DCM and
water where the product was isolated as a white solid after drying in 67% yield.1H NMR (500
MHz, CDCl3, rt): δ =7.91-7.87 (d, 4H), 7.54-7.51 (t, 2H), 7.44-7.40 (t, 4H), 4.24-3.41 ��m, 8H����3.05-
2.99 (q, 4H), 1.25-1.22 (t, 6H).
15 Example 2
Gelation Study with crude oil
[0049] In a typical procedure, the gelator compound of Formula I was added to 0.5 ml of crude
oil in a glass vial with an internal diameter (i.d.) of 10 mm. The mixture was warmed gently to
dissolve the solid compound in crude oil. Then the solution was allowed to cool slowly to room
20 temperature without disturbance. After few minutes, the solid aggregate mass was found to be
stable to inversion of the glass vial, and then the compound was recognized to form a gel.
[0050] To calculate minimum gelation concentration (MGC), gelator is added gradually from 1
mg to higher amount in required solvent/oil (0.5 ml) and the above process (heating and cooling)
was repeated until gel was formed.
25 [0051] Gel melting temperature was determined by typical tube inversion method. The vial
containing the gel, as prepared above was immersed in the oil-bath ‘upside down’ and slowly
heated. The temperature at which the viscous gel melted down was recorded as Tgel.
30
12
Gelation Study with other oils and solvents
[0052] The gelation process for crude oil was repeated taking CRN, SRN and Diesel as refinery
distillates and taking hexane, octane, dodecane, hexadecane, benzene, toluene and xylene as
solvents (Table 3-5).
Table 3: Gelation abilities of compound of Formula I in different 5 hydrocarbon solvents
Compound 1 2 3
MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC
Hexane P … P … P …
Octane P … P … P …
Dodecane P … P … P …
Hexadecane 2.3 43.4 2.52 39.6 2.71 36.7
Benzene 1.28 78.1 1.35 74.40 1.41 70.9
Toluene 1.2 83.3 1.22 81.9 1.25 80.0
Xylene 1.1 90.9 1.2 83.3 1.23 81.3
MGC = Minimum Gelation Concentration (amount in g of gelator required for 100
ml of hydrophobic material to be gelated), MUC = Minimum Uptake Capability
(volume in ml of hydrophobic material gelated by 1 g of gelator), P = Precipitate
[0053] The above synthesized compounds can be classified as sorbitol compounds with aromatic
carbonyls. Gelation ability of compounds 1-3 in different solvents are tabulated in Table 3. From
the table it is quite evident that compounds 1-3 are more susceptible to form gel with the
10 aromatic solvents than paraffinic solvents. They are practically insoluble in paraffinic solvents;
unable to convert low molecular weight paraffinic solvents e.g. hexane, octane and dodecane to
their respective gel but form gel only with high molecular weight hexadecane with poor
efficiency (MGC 2.3 to 2.71 %w/v). They are active for aromatic solvents where minimum
uptake capabilities vary in between 35 to 90 times. When the alkyl chain is added gradually to
15 the ketone part it imparts paraffinic nature to the molecule to show decreasing order of gelation
13
ability moving from 1 to 3 for aromatic solvents (MGC value 1.28 of 1 for benzenevs1.41 of 3)
as well as for paraffinic solvents.
[0054] In general, for all of these gelators, aromatic solvents having higher molecular weight
have lower MGC (for 1 MUC of 78.1 for benzene vs. MUC of 90.9 for xylene) i.e. with
successive addition of alkyl chain to benzene ring gelation ability is increased. 5 Superior gelation
affinity of compounds 1-3 towards aromatic solvents may be correlated to their structural motif.
As all compounds are originated from sorbitol by protection of four hydroxyl groups out of six,
the capping groups as hydrophobic part in these gelator compounds play the major role for their
distinction behavior. Compounds 1-3 having aromatic capping groups like aromatic solvent for
10 gelation.
Table 4: Gelation abilities of compound of Formula I in different oils
Compound 1 2 3
MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC
CRN 2.76 36.2 P … P …
SRN P … P … P …
Kero 3.05 32.7 3.15 31.7 3.22 31.0
Diesel 1.11 90.0 1.27 78.7 1.4 71.4
Crude 1.76 56.8 2.11 47.3 2.36 42.3
Vegetable
oil
2.13 46.9 2.22 45.0 2.32 43.1
MGC = Minimum Gelation Concentration, MUC = Minimum
Uptake Capability
[0055] After successful application of these gelators with different solvents they were applied
over mineral oils and vegetable oil to verify their gelation ability. Along with crude oil, different
15 refinery distillates also converted to gel by the gelator compounds as depicted in Table 4.
Compounds 1-3 have poor gelation ability with paraffinic solvents which is reflected in their
14
gelation ability with refinery distillates also. As SRN have least aromatic content than other
distillates, the gelation efficiency for SRN was found to be lowest; even gelator 5 and 6 was
unable to form gel with SRN. However, CRN having higher percentage of unsaturations e.g.
olefins and aromatics are easier to be converted to gel than SRN. As we move from lighter
fractions to heavier fractions (from SRN to Diesel via Kero) aromatic 5 content increases gradually
resulting successive increment of gelation ability. Thus superior gelation ability for heavier
refinery distillates is also followed by these compounds. Table 4 clearly tells about gelation
efficiency trend as 1>2>3 that basically runs according to poor solubility of these compounds
with increasing hydrophobicity. Gelation ability of all gelators for vegetable oil was also proved,
10 exhibiting satisfactory gelation capabilities superior to that of crude oil.
Table 5: Gelation abilities of compound of Formula I in different crude oils
Compound 1 2 3
MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC
C1(API = 18.8) 2.45 40.8 2.67 37.4 2.95 33.3
C2 (API = 27.1) 2.1 47.6 2.4 41.6 2.55 39.2
C3 (API = 28.1) 2.15 46.5 2.4 41.6 2.5 40
C4 (API = 35.5) 1.76 56.8 2.11 47.3 2.36 42.3
C5 (API = 40.5) 1.92 52.0 2.20 45.4 2.35 42.5
MGC = Minimum Gelation Concentration, MUC = Minimum Uptake Capability
[0056] In order to check the effect of the composition of crude oil on the gelation ability of the
gelator compounds, experiments were conducted with crudes with varying API gravities ranging
15 from very low API (C1, 18.8��) to high API (C5, 40.5��). Table 5 describes the effect of API
gravity (crude composition) on the uptake (MGC) capability of the gelators. Gelation ability of
compounds 1-3 follow the same order as observed before. It is evident from Table 5 that heavy
crude (lower API) have higher MGC and lighter crude (higher API) have lower MGC. Thus,
uptake capability decreased with increase in API gravity i.e. higher the resin & asphaltene in the
15
crude, lower the API gravity, thereby a reduction in the uptake capacity by the gelators was
observed. This trend i.e. lower MGC for higher API, is discontinued when going from API 35.5
to 40.5 and this phenomenon for extra light crude can be explained based on their poor gelation
capability for paraffinic solvents. These findings indicate that the composition of crude oil
played a major role in the oil uptake by the gelator compounds. However, 5 highest MUC value for
heaviest crude of 33.3 and that for lightest crude of 52.0 is quite remarkable regarding
compositional complexities of crude oils. This study clearly indicated that the gelator could be
used for the most of the crudes covering the wide spectrum of crude basket available from
different parts of the globe.
10 Example 3
Selective Gelation of crude oil from a Biphasic Mixture of Oil and Water
[0057] In a typical procedure, 0.5 mL of crude oil and 0.5 mL of water were taken in a sample
tube to which required amount of the gelator compounds of Formula I (as required to attain at
least MGC) was added (Table 4). The gelator was then solubilized in this two-phase solution by
15 heating. After the mixture was cooled to room temperature, the crude oil layer was gelated,
keeping the water layer intact in the liquid state. The same process was followed for other oils
like CRN, SRN, Kero, diesel and vegetable oil.
Table 6: Gelation abilities of compound of Formula I in various oil-water mixtures
Compound 1 2 3
MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC
CRN-Water 2.75 36.3 P … P …
SRN-Water P … P … P …
Kero-Water 3.0 33.3 3.2 31.25 3.3 30.3
Diesel-Water 1.2 83.3 1.3 76.9 1.4 71.4
Crude-Water 1.8 55.5 2.2 45.4 2.4 41.6
Veg oil-Water 2.25 44.4 2.3 43.4 2.35 42.5
16
MGC = Minimum Gelation Concentration, MUC = Minimum Uptake Capability
[0058] Selective gelation of oil from a biphasic mixture of oil and water was performed and the
results are noted in Table 6. Six oil samples containing crude oil, refinery distillates as well as
vegetable oil were subjected for gelation experiment prior to practical application in oil spillage.
These gelators were able to gelate exclusively the oil phase without 5 altering the water phase
during performance evaluation gelation experiments. Gelation abilities of the gelators follow the
same order as reported in Table 4. SRN was unable to be gelated by 1-3; CRN was unable to be
gelated by 2-3. Selective gelation of other oils was successful and there was no significant
alteration in their gelation abilities in the biphasic mixture as compared to that of individual oils.
10 MGCs for all mineral oils along with vegetable oil were increased slightly not more than 0.2 %
(w/v) from their respective individual/single phase studies. Thus, oil over water can be contained
using these gelators leaving water as unaffected.
Example 4
Selective Gelation of crude oil from a Biphasic Mixture of Oil and Salt Solution:
15 [0059] In a typical procedure, 0.5 mL of crude oil and 0.5 mL of 3.5% of NaCl solution
(equivalent salt concentration to that of sea water) were taken in a sample tube to which required
of the gelator compound of Formula I was added. The gelator was then solubilized in this twophase
solution by heating. After the mixture was cooled to room temperature, the crude oil layer
was gelated, keeping the water layer intact in the liquid state. The same process was followed for
20 other oils like CRN, SRN, Kero, diesel and vegetable oil.
Table 7: Gelation abilities of compound of formula I in various oil-sea water mixture
Compound 1 2 3
MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC MGC
(%w/v)
MUC
CRN-sea Water 2.75 36.3 P … P …
SRN- sea Water P … P … P …
17
Kero- sea Water 3.0 33.3 3.2 31.25 3.33 30.0
Diesel- sea Water 1.2 83.3 1.35 74.0 1.42 70.4
Crude- sea Water 1.85 54.0 2.25 44.4 2.4 41.6
Veg oil- sea Water 2.25 44.4 2.3 43.4 2.35 42.5
MGC = Minimum Gelation Concentration, MUC = Minimum Uptake Capability
[0060] Oil Selective gelation of oils from a biphasic mixture of oil and sea water was also
performed and the results are tabulated in Table 7. Similar to previous oil-water phase study
compound 1-3 were able to gelate exclusively the oil phase without altering the sea water phase
during performance evaluation gelation experiments. As expected 5 from Table 4 and 6 these
compounds were unable to gelate SRN and compounds 2-3 were unable to gelate CRN.
Comparison of the results from Table 6 and Table 7 clearly dictates that even under highly saline
conditions MCG & MUC for those oils remained almost unchanged. Thus, strength and
capability of the organogelators towards the gelation preference for organic phase is highly
10 encouraging even under extreme conditions reveling practical application towards oil spillage
over sea.
Example 6
Room Temperature Gelation of Crude Oil from a Biphasic Mixture of Oil and Salt
Solution:
15 [0061] For the phase selective gelation purpose volatile and oil miscible solvent dichloromethane
(DCM) was used. In a typical procedure 10% solution of the gelator was prepared by dissolving
it in DCM at room temperature without applying heat. To a 25 ml of crude oil layer over 100 ml
of salt solution the gelator solution was applied to ensure complete dispersion. Within a few
minutes volatile DCM is evaporated and the crude oil layer is transformed to the gel state.
20 [0062] Utilizing the volatile solvent e.g. DCM, phase selective gelation of crude oil as well as
other oil fraction are possible. The advantage of this process is that without applying any heating
and cooling process phase selective gelation is possible making the process very much
economical. Thus the process can be applied for larger scale for practical remediation of oil
18
spillage. Generally use of other hydrophobic solvent e.g. toluene, diesel or SRN for phase
selective gelation require excess amount of gelator to congeal the oil phase as well as carrier
solvent but, applying our above said process these drawbacks can be neglected and maximum
efficiency can be achieved
5 Example 7
Oil Spill Recovery:
[0063] Oil spill recovery was performed by compound 1 taking 10 ml of CRN over 20 ml of
water. An DCM solution of the compound of Formula I (0.5 g in 5 mL of DCM, 5 w/v%; only 3
ml of the DCM solution was used for 10 ml of CRN) was added to the CRN-water mixture and
10 allowed to stand for about 15 min where CRN phase was transformed to the gel keeping the
water layer intact in the liquid state. The gel phase was filtered off and processed to recover the
oil.
Example 7
Reclaiming solvent from Gel
15 [0064] 10 ml of CRN was transformed into gel phase using 300 mg of compound of Formula I
(Compound 1). The gel was then subjected to vacuum distillation for oil phase recovery. After
successful distillation 9.2 ml of CRN was recovered leaving white powder of the gelator
compound with 92% of oil recovery. The vacuum distillation was carried out at 60oC for 1 hour.
Advantages gained in the example illustrative process in this subject matter:
20 [0065] Environmentally benign sugar based phase selective gelator has been developed for oil
phase gelation from a mixture of oil and water. The gelators efficiently work even at a very low
concentration and at room temperature. The gelators find application in marine oil spill recovery.
Oil from the gel can be recovered and gel can be recycled and reused for number of cycles
without loss of activity
25 [0066] Although the subject matter has been described in considerable detail with reference to
certain examples and implementations thereof, other implementations are possible. As such, the
spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred
examples and implementations contained therein.
19
I/We Claim:
1. A compound having the Formula:
Formula I
5 wherein
R1 and R2 are independently selected from H and C1 to C10 alkyl.
2. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 are hydrogen
3. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is hydrogen and R2 is C1 to C6 alkyl.
4. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 is C1 to C6 alkyl and R2 is hydrogen.
10 5. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 are C1 to C6 alkyl.
6. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 are is C1 alkyl.
7. The compound as claimed in claim 1, wherein R1 and R2 are is C2 alkyl.
8. A method of preparing the compound as claimed in claim 1 and 8.
9. A gel comprising a compound as claimed in claim 1 and a solvent.
15 10. The gel as claimed in claim 9, wherein the solvent is selected from water, an organic
solvent, or mixtures thereof.
11. A method for producing a gel comprising contacting the compound as claimed in claim
1 with a solvent.
12. The method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the solvent is selected from water, an organic
20 solvent, or mixtures thereof.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the solvent is a hydrocarbon.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the solvent comprises a mixture of a hydrocarbon and
water.
15. A method of containing the spill of a hydrocarbon, the method comprising contacting the
25 hydrocarbon with the compound as claimed in claim 1 to obtain a gel.
20
16. A method of reclaiming solvent and a compound as claimed in claim 1 from the gel as
claimed in claim 9.