Abstract: A process for the removal of trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from an aqueous stream which comprise the steps of: (a) contacting the aqueous stream with an adsorbent to remove trace quantities of hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream to provide an aqueous stream having a reduced concentration of hydrocarbonaceous compounds; (b) contacting spent adsorbent which has accumulated the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the aqueous stream with an elution solvent to remove the hydrocarbonaceous compounds from the spent adsorbent thereby regenerating the adsorbent; (c) contacting the elution solvent in admixture with the hydrocarbonaceous compounds which were removed from the spent adsorbent in step (b) in the presence of hydrogen with a hydrogenation catalyst in a hydrotreating reaction zone; (d) contacting the hydrotreating reaction zone effluent with an aqueous scrubbing solution; and (e) introducing a resulting admixture of the reaction zone effluent and the aqueous scrubbing solution i

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a body of water, subtidal seafloor, a riverbed, a shoreline or a beach are disclosed. The method employs a sweeping action of oleophilic bristles comprising at least one brush to remove oil from such a surface and a suction means to remove oil from the bristles. The apparatus comprises one or more oleophilic bristled brushes connected to a support means. The brushes are positioned so that they have a lower portion in contact with the oil and an upper portion above the oil. A motor means moves the brushes so that the oil is drawn into the brushes. A suction means, such as an air conveyor system, removes the oil from the brushes.

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said sorption and desorption zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the sorption and desorption zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone. There may be disposed between the sorption and desorption zones at least one roller and at least one moving belt or at least two moving belts. The process can also be used to form a mixture with content of the sorbable component controlled by the sorption/desorption cycle.

Abstract: A continuous process for separating components of a fluid mixture is disclosed which comprises forming a sorption zone and a desorption zone, said sorption and desorption zones being separated by a boundary of a sorbent material which continuously moves back and forth between the sorption and desorption zones, causing a fluid mixture to flow into the sorption zone wherein the conditions are such to promote sorption of one of the components of the mixture by the sorbent material, and creating conditions in the desorption zone such that the sorbed component will be desorbed when the sorbent material containing the sorbed component moves into the desorption zone. This sorption separation process is used in a network (including a linear series) of sorption/desorption units for separation of multiple components of fluid mixtures or for more complete separation of one component of a fluid mixture.

Abstract: A mixture containing dispersed phase and continuous aqueous phase, with particulate solids being part of either or both phases, is separated by passing it one or more times through apertures in an endless oleophilic conveyor belt in a separation zone wherein bitumen phase adheres to the belt and bitumen adhering to the belt is conveyed to one or more bitumen treatment zones and to a recovery zone where bitumen is removed from the belt. The end rolls of the belt are not immersed in a water bath; however, portions of the belt, while in the separation, treatment and recovery zones, may be partly or completely in an aqueous environment. More than one set of separation, treatment and recovery zones may be used on the same endless belt conveyor. Also, a mixture containing dispersed aqueous phase and continuous bitumen or oil phase, and possibly gas, is deposited onto an apertured oleophilic endless belt conveyor and is treated in one or more treatment zones and is then removed from the belt.

Abstract: A regenerative filter having particular application for removal of oil from water. The filter includes a bed of finely divided particles or media separated in three horizontal layers. The top layer is comprised of anthracite particles, the middle layer of silica sand particles, and the bottom layer of garnet sand particles. The filter bed is supported within the filter vessel by a strata of relatively coarse support particles located beneath the bottom layer of filter media. The oil-contaminated water is fed into the top of the vessel and flows through the filter bed and supporting strata to a manifold at the bottom of the tower where it is discharged. By proper selection of the type and size of the media, effective removal of oil from the water is achieved during filtering and loss of media and intermixing of the layers is prevented during the back washing cycle.

Abstract: Bags or booms of porous material filled with an oil adsorbant, particulate polyisocyanurate synthetic foam material are used to enclose and adsorb oil spilled on water or hard surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for the removal and recovery of pollutant oil and the like floating on the surface of a body of water, comprising: means capable of the physical withdrawal of pollutant oil and the like with or without additional water from the water surface to a recovery station on site; means for spraying hot water over such pollutant oil and the like at said recovery station; a receiving tank for the oil/water washings resulting; an oil/water separator/coalescer for separating oil containing a minor quantity of water only from the washings; means for receiving such separated oil; means for recirculating water from said separator/coalescer for heating and further spraying; and means for returning any excess purified water from said separator/coalescer to said body of water.

Abstract: The system comprises a flexible line provided with means for collecting products scattered at the water bottom by circulating the flexible line in contact with these products. On the rising portion of the path followed by the flexible line, the collecting means are passed through a tubular casing for simultaneously protecting the surrounding water against pollution from products released, while hoisting the products to the surface.

Abstract: In a flotation method for purification of industrial or municipal waste water, in which the waste water comes in contact with electrodes having an electrical potential capable of electrolytically decomposing a portion of the waste water, thereby creating an ascending stream of gas bubbles, the waste water is mixed before or during the electrolytic decomposition with wettable particles of polymer material which are practically insoluble in water and have an absolute density of 1.3 g/cm.sup.3 at the most. Polymeric materials, especially polyalkane fibrids, are suitable for use as particles. This process makes it possible to purify oil-containing waste water by electroflotation without forming an oil film on the electrodes.

Abstract: Oil floating on the surface of another liquid is contacted with crushed raw oil shale to adsorb the oil onto the shale. A vortex is created in the surface of the liquid, drawing the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon beneath the surface of the liquid. The invention provides method and apparatus for adsorbing oil on shale, causing the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon to sink below the surface of the liquid, recovering the crude shale with oil adsorbed thereon from below the liquid surface, treating the crude shale to separate the oil from the shale, and recycling the crushed shale into contact with oil on the liquid surface.

Abstract: In the decoloration of an animal and vegetable fat and oil with clay, an oil-containing clay is obtained as by-products. Good recovery of oil is attained by subjecting the oil-containing clay to an alkali treatment under high temperature and high pressure, adding an acid in an amount necessary for neutralization and removing the floating oil. Clay sludges and waste water after the recovery of oil can be easily disposed without causing the environmental contamination.

Abstract: A process for separating hydrophobic organic liquids from water comprising passing a mixture of water and hydrophobic organic liquids through a column-like vessel which is filled with a hydrophobic, preferably open-celled, polyurethane foam, said foam having a high absorption capacity, permits high flow-through velocities even as the foam becomes covered and saturated with the hydrophobic organic liquids, is reversibly deformable, and can be reused.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing oil from the surface of water by means of one or a multiplicity of discs which are provided with either or a combination of oil-absorbent bristles and oil-absorbent materials disposed on the flat surfaces of the disc, the disc being disposed partially in the oil and partially in a vapor space thereabove, rotating the discs to cycle the bristles and/or oil-absorbent material alternately from the oil on the water to the vapor space thereabove, allowing the oil to adhere or absorb into the bristles or absorbent material and then removing the oil from the bristles and/or oil-absorbent material while the bristles and/or oil-absorbent material are in the vapor space.

Abstract: Organic pollutant spills on aquatic bodies may be collected by a method comprising distributing a plurality of buoyant magnetically susceptible, oleophillic, hydrophobic, resilient sorbent particles on the surface of the pollutant, allowing the sorbent to attract and bind the pollutant, magnetically collecting the pollutant-bound sorbent particles, compressing the pollutant-bound sorbent particles to expel the pollutant to a pollutant sump, allowing the compressed sorbent particles to recover from compression, and redistributing the sorbent particles on the surface of the remaining pollutant.

Abstract: A method for separating water-immiscible oils and oil-like substances from mixtures including said oils in an aqueous medium which comprises contacting the mixture with an oleophilic fibrous web comprising large numbers of interconnected, interstitial spaces for reception and retention of the oil to the exclusion of water.