CLAIMS

1. A process for producing a microemulsion or nanoemulsion comprising water and at least one hydrocarbon or oil, comprising the steps of: a) providing the hydrocarbon or oil, water, one or more additives, a solvent, and a hydrophilic surfactant formulation comprising an amine or amide derivative non ionic surfactant which is a fatty acid alkanolamide, one or more ethoxylated alcohols and/or ethoxylated alkylphenols, and a non-ionic fatty acid ester; b) by a mixing or stirring device operating at a mixing or stirring speed in the range 100 rpm and 15000 rpm, mixing or stirring the formulation and additive into the solvent, to produce a hydrophilic self-emulsifying blend; c) adding water to the hydrophilic self-emulsifying blend and the hydrocarbon or oil to produce a water-in-hydrocarbon/oil microemulsion or nanoemulsion, wherein the microemulsion or nanoemulsion comprises:

46% or more by mass of the hydrocarbon or oil,

4% to 36% by mass of water, a mass ratio of formulation to water in the range 1 : 10 to 1 :2,

0.1% to 5% by mass of additive,

1.2% or more by mass of the solvent, a dispersed particle size in the range 1 nm to 500 nm, and a polydispersity index of 35% Pdl or less, wherein the percentages by mass of the hydrocarbon or oil, water, formulation, additive and solvent together add up to 100%.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 , in which a second lipophilic emulsifying blend is provided, the second lipophilic emulsifying blend including a second solvent and a second lipophilic surfactant formulation comprising a non-ionic lauric acid based surfactant, one or more ethoxylated alcohols and/or ethoxylated alkylphenols, and a non-ionic fatty acid ester, in which the second formulation to second solvent mass ratio is in the range 1 :1 to 1 :5.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the fatty acid alkanolamide includes lauramide DEA, palm kernelamide DEA or cocamide DEA.

4. A process as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the hydrophilic emulsifying blend includes a surfactant formulation as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 15, and optionally in which a lipophilic emulsifying blend including a lipophilic surfactant formulation is provided.

5. An apparatus for providing a microemulsion or nanoemulsion in a hydrocarbon flow or oil flow, the apparatus comprising a hydrocarbon or oil tank, a feed line connected to the tank for conveying the hydrocarbon or oil, a pump for pumping hydrocarbon or oil from the tank along the feed line, a mixing device arranged in the feed line, the mixing device comprising an inlet, an outlet, at least one mixing or emulsifying chamber disposed between the inlet and the outlet, a turbulator or turbulator nozzle at an inlet side of the chamber for in use creating a non-laminar flow within the chamber for generating turbulence in the flow, and a plurality of spheres or obstructions at an outlet side of the chamber for in use enhancing the turbulence in the flow and generating a high turbulence region; a reservoir for a hydrophilic emulsifying blend, and a water reservoir, which are both connected to the feed line or the at least one mixing chamber for introducing water and the hydrophilic emulsifying blend, which includes a hydrophilic surfactant formulation, additive and solvent, into the flow during use for reducing emissions.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which mixing means is provided for mixing the hydrophilic emulsifying blend and water with the hydrocarbon or oil to form the microemulsion or nanoemulsion in a second mixing chamber, and a conduit for in use conveying the microemulsion or nanoemulsion from the second mixing chamber to the feed line or first mixing chamber.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, in which at least two nozzles are connected to the hydrophilic emulsifying blend reservoir and the water tank for dosing hydrophilic emulsifying blend and water into the feed line or mixing chamber for in use forming a water-in-hydrocarbon or water-in-oil microemulsion or nanoemulsion.

8. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, comprising at least one additional hydrocarbon or oil tank, and blending means configured to receive hydrocarbon or oil from the tanks and blend them together for feeding into the mixing chamber.

9. An apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, connected to a fuel system for an engine, generator, turbine, burner or other combustion device for enhancing fuel combustion efficiency.

10. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent for mixing with water and hydrocarbon to form a microemulsion or nanoemulsion of water-in-hydrocarbon, the surfactant formulation in the emulsifying blend having a HLB value greater than 9 and less than 15, the surfactant formulation comprising: 50% to 99% by mass of one or more non-ionic lauric fatty acid-based diethanolamides independently selected from a group comprising: cocamide DEA, lauramide DEA and palm kernelamide DEA;

25% to 50% by mass of one or more non-ionic fatty acid based alkanolamides, independently selected from the group (a) below: a) acetamide MEA, almondamide DEA, apricotamide DEA, avocadamide DEA, avocadamide DIPA, babassuamide DEA, babassuamide MEA, Capramide DEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide DIPA, cocamide MEA, cocamide Ml PA, cocoyl sarcosinamide DEA, comamide/cocamide DEA, cornamide DEA, diethanolaminooleamide DEA, disodium cocamido MIPA PEG-4 sulfosuccinate, disodium lauramido MIPA, glycol sulfosuccinate, hydrogenated tallowamide DEA, hydroxyethyl ethylene dipalmitamide, hydroxyethyl stearamide-MIPA, hydroxypropyl bisisostearamide MEA, hydroxypropyl bislauramide MEA, hydroxypropyl bispalmitamide MEA, hydroxystearamide MEA, isostearamide DEA, isostearamide MEA, isostearamide MIPA, lactamide MEA, lanolinamide DEA, lauramide DEA, lauramide MEA, lauramide MIPA, lauramide/Myristamide DEA, lauryl Malamide, lecithinamide DEA, linoleamide DEA, linoleamide MEA, linoleamide MIPA, minkamide DEA, myristamide DEA, myristamide MEA, myristamide MIPA, oatamide MEA, oleamide DEA, oleamide DIPA, oleamide MEA, oleamide MIPA, olivamide DEA, oliveamide MEA, palmamide DEA, palmamide MEA, palmamide MIPA, palmitamide DEA, palmitamide MEA, palm kernelamide DEA, palm kernelamide MEA, palm kernelamide MIPA, pantothenamide MEA, nutamide MEA, peanutamide MIPA, PEG- 20 pocamide MEA, ricebranamide DEA, ricinoleamide DEA, ricinoleamide MEA, ricinoleamide MIPA, sesamide DEA, sesamide DIPA, soyamide DEA, stearamide AMP, stearamide DEA, stearamide DEA-distearate, stearamide DIBA-stearate, stearamide MEA, stearamide MEAstearate, stearamide MIPA, tallamide DEA, talloWamide DEA, talloWamide MEA, trideceth-2 Carboxamide MEA, undecylenamide DEA, undecylenamide MEA and/or Wheat germamide DEA; one or both of: i) 1 % to 30% by mass of at least one non-ionic fatty acid ester which is a sorbitan alkyl ester; ii) 1% to 30% by mass of at least one non-ionic fatty acid ester which is a polyoxyethlyene derivative of a sorbitan alkyl ester; 1 % to 70% by mass of one or more ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated alkylphenols and/or ethoxylated thiols; and

0.1% to 20% by mass of one or more further surfactants which are non-ionic, anionic, cationic or zwitterionic.

11. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent as claimed in claim 10, in which the sorbitan alkyl ester is independently selected from a group comprising: sorbitan monolaurate (Span 20), sorbitan monopalmitate (Span 40), sorbitan monostearate (Span 60), sorbitan tristearate (Span 65), Sorbitan monooleate (Span 80), sorbitan etrioleate (Span 85).

12. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 , in which the polyoxyethlyene derivative of the sorbitan alkyl ester is independently selected from a group comprising: polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate (Tween 20), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monopalmitate (Tween 40), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween 60), polyoxyethylene sorbitan triestearate (Tween 65), polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooeleate (Tween 80), polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioeleate (Tween 85).

13. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, in which the sorbitan alkyl ester is sorbitan monooleate, and/or in which the polyoxyethlyene derivative of the sorbitan alkyl ester is polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooeleate.

14. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, in which the ethoxylated alcohol is alcohol ethoxylate and/or the ethoxylated alkylphenol is nonylphenol ethoxylate.

15. An emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, in which the one or more further surfactants are independently selected from the group (a) and/or independently selected from a second group comprising: b) almondamidopropyl betaine, Alkyl polyethylene glycol ether, apricotamidopropyl betaine, capryl/capramidopropyl betaine, canolamidopropyl betaine, cetearyl Alcohol, cetrimonium bromide, cocamide betaine, cocamidoethyl betaine, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine, coco-betaine, coco- hydroxysultaine, coconut alcohol, coco/oleamidopropyl betaine, Cocamidopropylamine Oxide, decyl betaine, glyceryl stearate SE, Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate, hydrogenated tallow betaine, Lauramide Oxide, Lauramidopropylamine Oxide, lauramidopropyl betaine, lauryl betaine, Lauryl/Myristyl Amidopropyl Amine Oxide, lauryl alcohol ethoxylates, myristamidopropyl betaine, oleamidopropyl betaine, oleyl betaine, palm kernelamidopropyl betaine, palmamidopropyl betain, palmitamidopropyl betaine, propylene glycol stearate, sesamidopropyl betaine, soyamidopropyl betaine, stearyl betaine, tallowamidopropyl betaine, trilaneth-4 phopshate, octylphenoxy polyethoxyethanol (triton x- 100), tetradecyltrimethylammonium bromide (TTAB), Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate, Sodium cetearyl sulfate, and sodium dodecyl sulphate.

16. A microemulsion or nanoemulsion comprising:

46% or more by mass of hydrocarbon or oil as a continuous phase of the microemulsion or nanoemulsion,

4% to 36% by mass of liquid or gaseous water, a surfactant formulation having a HLB value greater than 9 and less than 15, the surfactant formulation comprising:

50% to 99% by mass of one or more non-ionic lauric fatty acid-based diethanolamides independently selected from a group comprising: cocamide DEA, lauramide DEA and palm kernelamide DEA;

25% to 50% by mass of one or more non-ionic fatty acid based alkanolamides, independently selected from the group comprising: acetamide MEA, almondamide DEA, apricotamide DEA, avocadamide DEA, avocadamide DIPA, babassuamide DEA, babassuamide MEA, Capramide DEA, cocamide DEA, cocamide DIPA, cocamide MEA, cocamide Ml PA, cocoyl sarcosinamide DEA, comamide/cocamide DEA, cornamide DEA, diethanolaminooleamide DEA, disodium cocamido MIPA PEG-4 sulfosuccinate, disodium lauramido MIPA, glycol sulfosuccinate, hydrogenated tallowamide DEA, hydroxyethyl ethylene dipalmitamide, hydroxyethyl stearamide-MIPA, hydroxypropyl bisisostearamide MEA, hydroxypropyl bislauramide MEA, hydroxypropyl bispalmitamide MEA, hydroxystearamide MEA, isostearamide DEA, isostearamide MEA, isostearamide MIPA, lactamide MEA, lanolinamide DEA, lauramide DEA, lauramide MEA, lauramide MIPA, lauramide/Myristamide DEA, lauryl Malamide, lecithinamide DEA, linoleamide DEA, linoleamide MEA, linoleamide MIPA, minkamide DEA, myristamide DEA, myristamide MEA, myristamide MIPA, oatamide MEA, oleamide DEA, oleamide DIPA, oleamide MEA, oleamide MIPA, olivamide DEA, oliveamide MEA, palmamide DEA, palmamide MEA, palmamide MIPA, palmitamide DEA, palmitamide MEA, palm kernelamide DEA, palm kernelamide MEA, palm kernelamide MIPA, pantothenamide MEA, nutamide MEA, peanutamide MIPA, PEG-20 pocamide MEA, ricebranamide DEA, ricinoleamide DEA, ricinoleamide MEA, ricinoleamide MIPA, sesamide DEA, sesamide DIPA, soyamide DEA, stearamide AMP, stearamide DEA, stearamide DEA-distearate, stearamide DIBA- stearate, stearamide MEA, stearamide MEAstearate, stearamide MIPA, tallamide DEA, talloWamide DEA, talloWamide MEA, trideceth-2 Carboxamide MEA, undecylenamide DEA, undecylenamide MEA and/or Wheat germamide DEA; one or both of: i) 1% to 30% by mass of at least one non-ionic fatty acid ester which is a sorbitan alkyl ester; ii) 1% to 30% by mass of at least one non-ionic fatty acid ester which is a polyoxyethlyene derivative of a sorbitan alkyl ester;

1% to 70% by mass of one or more ethoxylated alcohols, ethoxylated alkylphenols and/or ethoxylated thiols; and

0.1% to 20% by mass of one or more further surfactants which are non ionic, anionic, cationic or zwitterionic; in which the surfactant formulation to water mass ratio is in the range 1 : 10 to 1 :2, 0.1% to 5% by mass of additive, and 1.2% or more by mass of solvent, in which the microemulsion or nanoemulsion has a dispersed particle size in the range 1 nm to 500 nm, and a polydispersity index of 35% Pdl or less, wherein the percentages by mass of the hydrocarbon or oil, water, formulation, additive and solvent together add up to 100%.

17. A container comprising the emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent of any one of claims 10 to 15, or comprising a microemulsion or nanoemulsion as claimed in claim 16.

18. A system comprising the apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 9, configured to perform the process of any one of claims 1 to 4 using: the emulsifying blend of surfactant formulation and solvent of any one of claims 10 to 15, or the microemulsion or nanoemulsion of claim 16.