Patent ID: 7553878

Claim:
A process for preparing a feedstock emulsion composition with increased efficiency of atomization comprising the steps of: (a) providing a water source; (b) providing a hydrocarbon oil source; (c) providing a non-ionic surfactant having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of greater than about 12, said surfactant being selected from the group consisting of ethoxylated alkyl phenols, ethylene oxide propylene oxide block copolymers, polymerized alcohols and amines, and combinations thereof, and (d) combining components (a), (b) and (c), wherein said combining comprises mixing components (a), (b) and (c) on the feed side of a spray nozzle under temperatures of greater than about 200-500° F. and under pressure conditions greater than steam vapor pressure to form a stabilized water-in-hydrocarbon oil simple emulsion comprising a hydrocarbon oil phase for use in fluidized catalytic cracking, said non-ionic surfactant being present in an amount suitable to stabilize said emulsion; wherein said emulsion comprises water droplets dispersed substantially uniformly in said hydrocarbon oil phase.