Abstract: The invention is directed to a continuous process to treat a hydrogen sulphide comprising gas comprising the following steps: (a) contacting the hydrogen sulphide comprising gas with an aqueous alkaline solution further comprising sulphide oxidising bacteria thereby obtaining a loaded aqueous solution comprising sulphide compounds and sulphide oxidising bacteria. (b) contacting the loaded aqueous solution with an oxygen comprising gas to regenerate the sulphide oxidising bacteria to obtain a liquid effluent comprising regenerated sulphide oxidising bacteria which is partly used as the aqueous alkaline solution in step (a). (c) separating elemental sulphur as prepared by the sulphide oxidising bacteria in steps (a) and (b) from the loaded aqueous solution of step (a) and/or from the liquid effluent of step (b) and wherein the consumption of oxygen in step (b) is measured and wherein the supply of oxygen in step (b) is controlled by the measured consumption of oxygen.

Abstract: A process to treat a gas comprising hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans is described. The following steps are part of this process: (a) contacting the hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans comprising gas (1) with an aqueous solution (3) comprising sulphide-oxidising bacteria thereby obtaining a loaded aqueous solution (5) and a gas (4) having a lower content of hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans, (b) contacting the loaded aqueous solution with mercaptan reducing microorganisms immobilized on a carrier under anaerobic conditions, (c) separating the aqueous solution obtained in step (b) from the mercaptan reducing microorganisms to obtain a first liquid effluent (7), and (d) contacting the first liquid effluent (7) with an oxidant (9) to regenerate the sulphide-oxidising bacteria to obtain a second liquid effluent (11) comprising regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria. The sulphide-oxidising bacteria as present in step (a) are comprised of regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria obtained in step (d).

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the biological conversion of bisulphide into elemental sulphur, comprising the following steps: a) converting bisulphide as dissolved in an aqueous solution to elemental sulphur in the presence of sulphide-oxidizing bacteria and under anaerobic conditions to obtain a first liquid effluent comprising elemental sulphur and used sulphide-oxidizing bacteria; b) regenerating the used sulphide-oxidizing bacteria as obtained in step (a) and as comprised in an aqueous solution in the presence of an oxidant to obtain a second liquid effluent comprising regenerated sulphide-oxidizing bacteria; c) separating elemental sulphur from either the first and/or the second liquid effluent; d) using the regenerated sulphide-oxidizing bacteria in step (a) as the sulphide-oxidizing bacteria.

Abstract: A process to treat a gas comprising hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans is described. The following steps are part of this process: (a) contacting the hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans comprising gas (1) with an aqueous solution (3) comprising sulphide-oxidising bacteria thereby obtaining a loaded aqueous solution (5) and a gas (4) having a lower content of hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans, (b) contacting the loaded aqueous solution with mercaptan reducing microorganisms immobilized on a carrier under anaerobic conditions, (c) separating the aqueous solution obtained in step (b) from the mercaptan reducing microorganisms to obtain a first liquid effluent (7), and (d) contacting the first liquid effluent (7) with an oxidant (9) to regenerate the sulphide-oxidising bacteria to obtain a second liquid effluent (11) comprising regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria. The sulphide-oxidising bacteria as present in step (a) are comprised of regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria obtained in step (d).

Abstract: A process for producing a fluid containing oil and water from an oil-bearing formation and separating an oil phase and an aqueous phase from the produced fluid. An aqueous polymer mixture is formed by mixing polymer in water having a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 15,000 ppm. The aqueous polymer mixture is injected into an oil-bearing formation, and, after injecting the aqueous polymer mixture into the formation, a fluid is produced from the oil-bearing formation containing an oil phase and an aqueous polymer-containing phase. Brine is mixed with the produced fluid to enhance separation of the oil phase from the aqueous polymer phase.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the biological conversion of bisulphide into elemental sulphur, comprising the following steps: a) converting bisulphide as dissolved in an aqueous solution to elemental sulphur in the presence of sulphide-oxidising bacteria and under anaerobic conditions to obtain a first liquid effluent comprising elemental sulphur and used sulphide-oxidising bacteria; b) regenerating the used sulphide-oxidising bacteria as obtained in step (a) and as comprised in an aqueous solution in the presence of an oxidant to obtain a second liquid effluent comprising regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria; c) separating elemental sulphur from either the first and/or the second liquid effluent; d) using the regenerated sulphide-oxidising bacteria in step (a) as the sulphide-oxidising bacteria.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing and separating oil. An aqueous fluid having an ionic content of at most 0.15 M and a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 10,000 ppm is introduced into an oil-bearing formation. Oil and water are produced from the formation subsequent to the introduction of the aqueous fluid into the formation. A demulsifier and a brine solution having a total dissolved solids content of greater than 10,000 ppm are mixed with the oil and water produced from the formation. Oil is then separated from the mixture of oil, water, demulsifier, and brine solution.

Abstract: A process and a system for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing formation are provided in which water having a total dissolved solids content is filtered to remove some solids in a filter assembly, the filtered water is treated to remove some ions in a capacitive deionization assembly, and the filtered deionized water is injected into the oil-bearing formation to mobilize crude oil and enhance oil recovery from the formation.

Abstract: A process and a system for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing formation are provided in which water having a total dissolved solids content is filtered to remove some solids in a filter assembly, the filtered water is treated to remove some ions in a capacitive deionization assembly, and the filtered deionized water is injected into the oil-bearing formation to mobilize crude oil and enhance oil recovery from the formation.

Abstract: A process and a system for enhancing recovery of oil from an oil-bearing formation are provided in which water having a total dissolved solids content is filtered to remove some solids in a filter assembly, the filtered water is treated to remove some ions in a capacitive deionization assembly, and the filtered deionized water is injected into the oil-bearing formation to mobilize crude oil and enhance oil recovery from the formation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing a fluid containing oil and water from an oil-bearing formation and separating an oil phase and an aqueous phase from the produced fluid. An aqueous polymer mixture is formed by mixing polymer in water having a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 15,000 ppm. The aqueous polymer mixture is injected into an oil-bearing formation, and, after injecting the aqueous polymer mixture into the formation, a fluid is produced from the oil-bearing formation containing an oil phase and an aqueous polymer-containing phase. Brine is mixed with the produced fluid to enhance separation of the oil phase from the aqueous polymer phase.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for producing and separating oil. An aqueous fluid having an ionic content of at most 0.15 M and a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 10,000 ppm is introduced into an oil-bearing formation. Oil and water are produced from the formation subsequent to the introduction of the aqueous fluid into the formation. A demulsifier and a brine solution having a total dissolved solids content of greater than 10,000 ppm are mixed with the oil and water produced from the formation. Oil is then separated from the mixture of oil, water, demulsifier, and brine solution.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for producing and separating oil. The system comprises an oil-bearing formation, a low salinity aqueous fluid having an ionic strength of less than 0.15M and having a total dissolved solids content of from 200 ppm to 10000 ppm, a brine solution having a total dissolved solids content of greater than 10000 ppm, and a demulsifier. The system further comprises a mechanism for introducing the low salinity aqueous fluid into and oil-bearing formation, a mechanism for producing oil and water from the formation subsequent to introducing the low salinity aqueous fluid into the formation, and a mechanism for contacting the brine solution and the demulsifier with the oil and water produced from the formation and for separating the produced oil from the produced water.

Abstract: Process to prepare a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from an ash containing carbonaceous feedstock by performing the following steps, (i) partial oxidation of the ash containing carbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen containing gas thereby obtaining liquid ash and a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and solids, (ii) separating more than 90 wt % of the liquid ash from the gas mixture, (iii) reducing the temperature of the gas mixture, in the absence of the separated ash (iv) scrubbing the cooled gas of step (iii) by contacting with liquid water obtaining a scrubbed gas and a water effluent containing ash, (v) separating the ash from the water effluent by means of a decanter centrifuge thereby obtaining a wet ash and a stream of water poor in ash.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to prepare a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from an ash containing carbonaceous feedstock. The process involves a partial oxidation obtaining liquid ash and a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and solids. The liquid ash is separated from the gas mixture and the temperature of the gas mixture is reduced in the absence of the separated ash. The gas mixture is passed through a vertically positioned diptube wherein water is added to the gas mixture flowing through the diptube to obtain a gas/water mixture. The liquid is separated from the gas/water mixture. The gas thus obtained is passed together with an amount of liquid water through a venturi mixer and scrubbed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for biologically treating a spent caustic to provide a treated spent caustic, said method comprising the steps of: (a) passing a spent caustic stream (25) comprising water, alkali metal hydroxide and sulphide to a first bioreactor (30); (b) biologically oxidising sulphide in the first bioreactor (30) with sulphide-oxidising bacteria to form sulphur) (S0) and sulphate to provide a partially oxidised spent caustic comprising sulphur) (S0) and sulphate; (c) passing the partially oxidised spent caustic to a second bioreactor (40) where at least a portion of the partially oxidised spent caustic is further oxidised with sulphide-oxidising bacteria to generate sulphate from sulphur) (S0) to provide a treated spent caustic comprising sulphate.

Abstract: Process to prepare a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from an ash containing carbonaceous feedstock by performing the following steps, (i) partial oxidation of the ash containing carbonaceous feedstock with an oxygen containing gas thereby obtaining liquid ash and a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and solids, (ii) separating more than 90 wt % of the liquid ash from the gas mixture, (iii) reducing the temperature of the gas mixture, in the absence of the separated ash (iv) scrubbing the cooled gas of step (iii) by contacting with liquid water obtaining a scrubbed gas and a water effluent containing ash, (v) separating the ash from the water effluent by means of a decanter centrifuge thereby obtaining a wet ash and a stream of water poor in ash.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a process to prepare a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide from an ash containing carbonaceous feedstock. The process involves a partial oxidation obtaining liquid ash and a gas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and solids. The liquid ash is separated from the gas mixture and the temperature of the gas mixture is reduced in the absence of the separated ash. The gas mixture is passed through a vertically positioned diptube wherein water is added to the gas mixture flowing through the diptube to obtain a gas/water mixture. The liquid is separated from the gas/water mixture. The gas thus obtained is passed together with an amount of liquid water through a venturi mixer and scrubbed.

Abstract: A method of removing hydrogen sulphide from a gas stream wherein the hydrogen sulphide is scrubbed from the gas phase by an aqueous solution, the hydrogen sulphide in the aqueous solution is biologically oxidized in a bioreactor to produce elemental sulphur, and the elemental sulphur is separated from the aqueous solution, characterized in that the gas stream to be treated is cooled to such a degree that at least sufficient water vapour condenses from the gas stream to compensate for the discharge stream for the purpose of removing salts. This means that no water need be supplied to the bioreactor. This method is suitable, in particular, for gas streams which contain hydrogen sulphide, the hydrogen sulphide having been obtained by catalytic conversion of sulphur compounds.