Patent ID: 8409448
Filing Date: 2013-04-02
Classification: B01D

Abstract:
1. A process for removing an immiscible lipophilic or a hydrophilic liquid respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic liquid phase, comprising the steps of: 1) forming a filter comprising a specific weight ratio of hydrophobic fibers to hydrophilic fibers; 2) determining an initial slope of a weight gain take-up versus time plot of the immiscible liquid by said filter; 3) determining an initial slope of weight gain take-up versus time plot of said continuous liquid by said filter; 4) calculating an L/H ratio from said initial slope of the plot of said immiscible liquid and of said initial slope of the plot of said continuous liquid and obtaining a wettability value for each; 5) forming a plurality of filters comprising different weight ratios of said hydrophobic fibers to said hydrophilic fibers from a range of from about 90% by weight of said hydrophobic fibers to about 10% by weight, or any portion thereof, of hydrophobic fibers with the remaining weight percent being said hydrophilic fibers; repeating steps 2), 3), and 4) with respect to each weight ratio of said lipophobic fibers to said hydrophilic fibers in step 5); plotting a wettability range from said L/H wettability values obtained from said plurality of said different weight ratios of said hydrophobic fibers to said hydrophilic fibers; and utilizing a filter having a wetness value within a weight range of from about 20% to about 80% of hydrophobic fibers to hydrophilic fibers to coalesce said immiscible liquid phase within said continuous liquid phase.