Patent ID: 7285585

Claim:
A process for isolating particles from an emulsion, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first emulsion having a solid component comprising a population of first particles, a liquid component, and a first ionic forming compound, wherein the first ionic forming compound is present in the first emulsion at a concentration that is less than the concentration required to cause coagulation of the first particles contained in the first emulsion; (b) providing a second emulsion having a solid component comprising a population of second particles, a liquid component, and a second ionic forming compound, wherein the second ionic forming compound is present in the second emulsion at a concentration that is less than the concentration required to cause coagulation of the second particles contained in the second emulsion; (c) mixing the first emulsion and the second emulsion to form an emulsion mixture such that the first ionic forming compound reacts with the second ionic forming compound to form a coagulating agent; and (d) coagulating the first particles and the second particles, wherein: the first ionic forming compound and the second ionic forming compound are reactive with one another to form a coagulating agent; and the first ionic forming compound and the second ionic forming compound are, respectively, present in the first emulsion and the second emulsion at a concentration sufficient to form the coagulating agent at a concentration in the emulsion mixture sufficient to coagulate the first particles and the second particles.