Patent ID: 6930079
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: B01D,B01J,C10G,C11D,D06F,D06L,D06M,F26B

Abstract:
1. A process for treating an emulsion comprising water and a lipophilic fluid, said process comprising the sequential steps of: a. forming said emulsion by mixing at least a portion of said lipophilic fluid and at least a portion of said water to form said emulsion; b. exposing a fabric to said emulsion and collecting said emulsion; c. pretreating said emulsion, wherein said pretreating step is selected from the group comprising sedimentation, centrifugation, cyclonic action exposure, decantation, filtration, temperature modification, and combinations thereof; d. recovering said lipophilic fluid from said emulsion, wherein said recovering step is selected from the group comprising mechanical coalescence, electric coalescence, chemical addition, membrane filtration, temperature modification, air stripping, microbial addition, absorbent material exposure, centrifugation, distillation, adsorption, absorption, crystallization, precipitation, diafiltration, electrolysis, extraction, pH modification, ionic strength modification, and combinations thereof; and e. purifying said lipophilic fluid, wherein said purifying step is selected from the group consisting of distillation, extraction, stripping, enzyme addition, ion exchange, desiccant drying, adsorption, and combinations thereof.