Patent ID: 7413657

Claim:
A process for the extraction of an unwanted liquid from a fluid comprising: introducing an immiscible extraction liquid into a silicone fluid having an unwanted liquid therein by mixing, pressurizing, or agitating to form a physical emulsion to form a plurality of extraction liquid droplets under 10 micron in diameter suspended in the fluid; allowing the plurality of extraction liquid droplets to form a polar interaction with the unwanted liquid in the fluid to cause the extraction liquid droplets to form into a plurality of microdispersed droplets containing the unwanted liquid; capturing the microdispersed droplets; coalescing the microdispersed droplets into larger droplets containing the unwanted liquid; controlling a volume of the immiscible extraction liquid introduced into the fluid such that there is a specific gravity difference of as low as 0.01 between the larger droplets containing the unwanted liquid and the fluid; and separating the larger droplets containing the unwanted liquid from the fluid.