Abstract: The invention relates to pre-treating an oil derived from a renewable feedstock to remove at least a portion of one or more contaminants by filtering the oil with a nanofiltration membrane. The resulting permeate oil has a reduced concentration of the contaminant relative to the feed stream to the nanofiltration membrane.

Abstract: A process for reducing injector deposits in an internal combustion engine fuelled with a fuel composition, the process comprising contacting a fuel composition with a metal-selective membrane situated in the fuel delivery system. The reduction of such deposits provides an increase in fuel efficiency, fuel thermal stability, boost in engine cleanliness, improves fuel economy and enables the possibility of using a reduced amount of expensive detergent in the fuel composition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing 5poly(propylene oxide) from propylene oxide, comprising: a) sending a stream comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) to a filtration screen having openings with an average diameter of at most 50 ?m; and b) sending the filtrate stream resulting from step a) to a membrane 10 having an average pore size of from 0 to 30 nm and recovering a permeate stream from the membrane as a purified propylene oxide stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for removing catalyst fine particles from a hydrocarbon product, the process including providing at least one nanofiltration membrane to remove the catalyst fine particles from the hydrocarbon product, the catalyst fine particles comprising a particle size of 0.1 microns or less, contacting the hydrocarbon product at a feed side of the nanofiltration membrane, recovering a catalyst fines-depleted stream at a permeate side of the nanofiltration membrane, recovering a catalyst fines-enriched stream at a retentate side of the nanofiltration membrane, and wherein the catalyst fines-enriched stream comprises the catalyst fine particles removed from the hydrocarbon product, the catalyst fine particles comprising a particle size of 0.1 microns or less.

Abstract: A process for degreasing a chemical plant is disclosed. The vessels and process lines are rinsed with a solvent comprising at least 50 wt % dialkyl carbonate, based upon the weight of the solvent.

Abstract: A process for preparing a base oil fraction having a reduced cloud point from a hydrocarbon feed which is derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process is provided. The process comprises: subjecting a hydrocarbon feed which is derived from a Fischer-Tropsch process to a catalytic dewaxing treatment to obtain an at least partially isomerised product; separating at least part of the at least partially isomerised product into one or more light hydrocarbon fractions and one or more heavy base oil fractions; separating at least one of the heavy base oil fractions by means of a first membrane into a first permeate and a first retentate; separating at least part of the first permeate by means of a second membrane into a second permeate and a second retentate; and recovering the second permeate.

Abstract: A method for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate, comprising the steps of providing a nanofiltration membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; contacting the natural gas condensate with the feed side of the membrane; and obtaining a mercury-depleted natural gas condensate at the permeate side of the membrane; and a natural gas processing plant comprising a condensate workup section including a nanofiltration membrane separation unit for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the extraction of lipids from microbial lipid-containing feedstock, comprising the steps of (a) subjecting the microbial lipid-containing feedstock to a treatment to release the lipids thereby producing a mixture; (b) subjecting the mixture obtained in (a) to a filtration in the presence of a first extraction solvent on a filter, wherein organic matter soluble in an extraction solvent and an aqueous mixture are removed as filtrate from a retentate comprising non-soluble matter; (c) separating the filtrate obtained from the filter into an organic and aqueous phase; and (d) subjecting the organic phase to a distillation treatment to separate solvent and an organic residue comprising extracted lipids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the release of lipids from lipid-containing microalgae feedstock, comprising heating the lipid-containing microalgae feedstock to a temperature of more than 80 to 120° C. and at a pressure of from 1 to 5 bar (absolute).

Abstract: A process for separation of a mixture containing a microbial substance and a liquid using deformable filter is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing poly(propylene oxide) from propylene oxide by membrane separation, wherein a membrane having an average pore size of from 0 to 5 nm is used. In said process, a liquid feed comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) may be separated by the membrane into a permeate comprising propylene oxide and either no poly(propylene oxide) or poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is lower than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed, and a retentate comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is higher than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for removal of metal sulphide particles from a liquid stream comprising a solvent and metal sulphide particles, using a filter system comprising at least one membrane, the method comprising contacting the liquid stream with the membrane, thereby transferring metal sulphide particles from the liquid stream onto the membrane surface to obtain a liquid stream depleted of metal sulphide particles and a filter system comprising a membrane enriched in metal sulphide particles.

Abstract: Process for removing asphaltenic particles from a hydrocarbon feed containing asphaltenic particles by treating the feed in a filter unit comprising a perforated tube surrounded by hollow longitudinal projections comprising a filter having openings of at most 50 micrometer diameter in which the internal space of each of the hollow projections is in fluid communication with the inside of the perforated tube and which filter is regularly subjected to cleaning by treating each of the projections with cleaning fluid wherein the flow of cleaning fluid is opposite to the direction of normal flow.

Abstract: A method for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate, comprising the steps of providing a nanofiltration membrane having a feed side and a permeate side; contacting the natural gas condensate with the feed side of the membrane; and obtaining a mercury-depleted natural gas condensate at the permeate side of the membrane; and a natural gas processing plant comprising a condensate workup section including a nanofiltration membrane separation unit for reducing the mercury content of natural gas condensate.

Abstract: Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, and by removing at the permeate side a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, wherein the membrane is arranged in a spirally wound membrane module.

Abstract: Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, wherein between the feed and permeate sides of the membrane a pressure difference is applied, thereby passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture from the feed side to the permeate side and obtaining at the permeate side of the membrane a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, and by removing the hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane, wherein during selected time intervals the removal of hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane is stopped so that the pressure difference over the membrane is temporarily substantially lowered.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing poly(propylene oxide) from propylene oxide by membrane separation, wherein a membrane having an average pore size of from 0 to 5 nm is used. In said process, a liquid feed comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) may be separated by the membrane into a permeate comprising propylene oxide and either no poly(propylene oxide) or poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is lower than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed, and a retentate comprising propylene oxide and poly(propylene oxide) at a concentration which is higher than the poly(propylene oxide) concentration in the feed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for removal of metal sulphide particles from a liquid stream comprising a solvent and metal sulphide particles, using a filter system comprising at least one membrane, the method comprising contacting the liquid stream with the membrane, thereby transferring metal sulphide particles from the liquid stream onto the membrane surface to obtain a liquid stream depleted of metal sulphide particles and a filter system comprising a membrane enriched in metal sulphide particles.

Abstract: A process for permeation enhanced reactive extraction of levulinic acid from a liquid aqueous phase comprising levulinic acid, wherein the levulinic acid from the aqueous phase is brought into contact with a liquid alcohol phase at esterification conditions in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature in the range of from 50 to 250° C., the aqueous phase and the alcohol phase being separated from each other by a membrane, and an aqueous stream depleted in levulinic acid and an alcohol stream comprising ester of levulinic acid are formed.

Abstract: Process for separating colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants from a hydrocarbon mixture using a membrane having a feed side and a permeate side, by contacting the hydrocarbon mixture with the feed side of the membrane, wherein between the feed and permeate sides of the membrane a pressure difference is applied, thereby passing part of the hydrocarbon mixture from the feed side to the permeate side and obtaining at the permeate side of the membrane a hydrocarbon permeate having a reduced content of colour bodies and/or asphalthenic contaminants, and by removing the hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane, wherein during selected time intervals the removal of hydrocarbon permeate from the permeate side of the membrane is stopped so that the pressure difference over the membrane is temporarily substantially lowered.