Abstract: An adsorption process for the selective removal of naphthalenic hydrocarbons in the waste water from a petrochemical operation which comprises contacting the effluent waste water for relatively short periods with activated carbon which has become saturated with respect to non-naphthalenic organics. Contact of the waste water streams with the saturated carbon is continued until the breakthrough of naphthalenic compounds in the waste water exceeds a predetermined concentration, such as 2 ppm. It has been found that efficient removal of naphthalenic compounds can be effected by contacting the waste water for relatively short contact times, for example 10 minutes, notwithstanding the fact that the activated carbon has previously become saturated with respect to non-naphthalenic compounds.

Abstract: An emulsifying agent of microbiological origin is produced by an aerobic aqueous fermentation process employing Corynebacterium hydrocarboclastus UWO 409 as the fermentation agent and paraffinic hydrocarbon substrate. An emulsifying agent product consists essentially of an extracellular polymer product of a fermentation process, the polymer comprising a polysaccharide component including galactose, glucose and mannose in ratio about 1:2.65:1.96 and a bound protein component.