Abstract: Process and device for breaking stabilized emulsions.Such a device is constituted by a tank divided into two compartments by a permeable membrane constituting a percolating electrode connected to a continuous or pseudo-continuous electric current supply, a first compartment provided with emulsion feed means and a second compartment provided with means for evacuating the effluent.This device is particularly adapted to the treatment of oil-water emulsions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a nutrient composition to be added to a hydrophobic medium for culturing microorganisms comprising a micro-emulsion of an aqueous solution of nutrient material in a liquid immiscible with water. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used. The medium sould also contain a directly-assimilable source of carbon. Application of this composition for culturing of microorganisms allows operations to be carried out which comprise the degrading of hydrocabons covering an area of water or ground; an application of particular interest for operation is for combatting oil pollution of the sea by biological degradation. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used.

Abstract: There is described a process for the culture of microorganisms in a medium comprising a hydrophobic material containing microorganisms by the use of nutrient substances in aqueous solution micro-emulsified in a liquid immiscible with water. As the source of nitrogen, compounds soluble in water are used, such as urea or ammonium nitrate, sulphate or phosphate, and, as the source of phosphorus, compounds soluble in water are used. The medium should also contain a directly-assimilable source of carbon. Application of this process to the culture of microorganisms, allowing operations to be carried out which comprise the degrading of hydrocarbons covering an area of water or ground; an application of particular interest for operations for combatting oil pollution of the sea by biological degradation.

Abstract: Recovery of drilling fluid from the mud leaving the well. The mud is first subjected to conventional separation on screens, settling tanks and/or hydrocyclones, whereafter the resulting liquid is centrifuged. The centripetal effluent of the centrifuge is recycled, alone of in mixture with non-centrifuged liquid, to the drilling tool.The process is applicable to drilling on land and at sea, saves drilling additives, avoids the need for the maintenance of mud tips, transportation of spent mud and avoids pollution.

Abstract: Treatment of residual earth drilling muds to achieve a partial dehydration of the same by addition of a series of flocculating agents and then mechanically separating the liquid of the mud from the flocculated solids.

Abstract: An improved method of producing dialkyl-sulfoxides by oxidizing corresponding dialkyl-sulfides with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous acidic medium. It remedies the drawback of the similar prior art as concerns the separation of the sulfoxide formed from its reaction medium. The new method permits of easily recovering the sulfoxides in the state of good purity.The improvement consists in mixing the reaction medium with a large proportion of a solvent capable of yielding an azeotropic mixture with water. Then, after oxidization, the water is removed by distillation as azeotropic mixture. Preferably solvents are used which dissolve the dialkyl-sulfide but do not dissolve the sulfoxide formed; heptane is a particularly useful solvent. When an excess of the solvent is used, there is obtained, after distilling off the azeotropic mixture, a slurry of sulfoxide and solvent, easy to separate.

Abstract: Restoration of drilling mud-pits which have served for purification treatment of drilling effluents in the search for hydrocarbons on terra firma by covering the floc of the mud-pit with a layer of water-absorbent material, particularly a natural cellulosic material, before filling the hollow or basin in with earth. The process makes it possible to firmly stabilize the refilled ground and make it cultivatable; it represents a substantial economy over known methods.

Abstract: Purification of the effluents from mineral oil drillings, carried out on land, for permitting the discharge of the residual waters into the natural surroundings. First, microorganisms are cultivated on a volume of the effluent, in order to make them capable of digesting the impurities of the effluent. The culture, thus obtained, is then developed in the mass of the effluent to be treated until the BOD is reduced to the required limit. This treatment is preferably followed by a flocculation with chemical agents in the known manner. This anti-pollution treatment permits the regulations in force to be applied in all locations where the drillings are undertaken, whatever may be the auxiliary fluids used in the drilling operation.

Abstract: Production of organic sulphoxides by the action of sulphoxides of lower molecular weight on organic sulphides in which the reaction is catalysed by one or more substances capable of supplying hydrogen ions to the reaction medium. The process permits yields to be obtained which exceed 90 percent, and the sulphoxide which is obtained is practically free from sulphone.