Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the separation of a dispersed phase in emulsion or in suspension in a continuous phase of a different density. The process comprises causing the emulsion to circulate in a coalescing enclosure (1) containing a filling (11) having an inherent volume of particles or fibers which is slight with respect to the useable volume of the enclosure, and causing the filling to move with respect to the emulsion in such a manner that the particles or fibers thereof sweep the enclosure with an average speed which is high with respect to the flow speed of the emulsion in the enclosure. The invention is particularly applicable for the separation of hydrocarbons or fatty bodies dispersed in an aqueous effluent.

Abstract: A granular water treatment material and a process for the production thereof, the material being in the form of spherical granules, each having a thermoplastic polymeric matrix (1) and a more dense adjuvant in the form of micro-grains (3) dispersed in the matrix; each granule has on the surface a porosity in the form of micro-cavities (4) and cationic hydrophilic sites distributed on the surface; the process includes providing a mixture of an oxidizable thermoplastic resin and an adjuvant in powdered form, heating the mixture to make it plastic, extruding the plastic material to a diameter corresponding to the size of the granules to be obtained and cutting the extrusions to a length equal to this diameter, achieving a beading of the extruded pieces, oxidizing the surface of the spherical granules thus obtained, then ionically grafting a cationic polyelectrolyte to the surface of said granules.

Abstract: A method for treating a fuel comprising a mixture of hydrocarbon(s) and alcohol(s) with a content by volume of alcohol less than 10%, the method comprising placing the fuel mixture in contact with at least one cationic exchange resin capable of strong dissociation into ion form in an aqueous medium, in particular a sulfonic or carboxylic resin which is prepared in potassium or magnesium form for adsorbing at least a portion of the water dissolved in the mixture on the resin so as to prevent segregation of the mixture and so as to stabilize the homogeneity of the fuel.

Abstract: The invention concerns an apparatus for separating a phase dispersed by emulsion or by suspension in a continuous phase of different density, comprising a coalescence enclosure 1 provided with an inlet 1a and with an outlet 1b which enters a separation enclosure 4, the coalescence enclosure 1 assuming the shape of an elongated surface of revolution about an axis XX' slanted with respect to the vertical and containing at least one rigid or semi-rigid sheet 7 rolled up about the inclined axis XX' to form windings of which the generatrices extend along the enclosures, these windings being spaced apart and substantially covering all of the free cross-section of the enclosure; this sheet in particular may be rolled up in a spiral and may consist of a material preferentially wetted by the dispersed phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of an emulsion of at least one dispersed phase emulsified in at least one continuous phase of different density wherein the emulsion is passed into a vessel and axially through a fixed coalescing bed for coalescing the dispersed phase, and continuing the flow over a guide wettable by the dispersed phase whereby the coalesced dispersed phase travels along the guide axially to establish a layer of the coalesced dispersed phase and the continuous phase passes substantially radially outwardly through the guide to establish a layer of the continuous phase, the interface of the dispersed phase and the continuous phase being maintained at approximately the midpoint of the guide.

Abstract: Compositions for inhibiting the deposition of scale from aqueous solutions onto surfaces in contact with the solutions, such compositions comprising at least one fluorocarbon which will deposit on such surface, exemplary fluorocarbons being at least one of the following: ##STR1## where n is an integer from 2 to 20, the compositions optionally containing hydroxyethylenediphosphonic acid, together with methods for treating surfaces with such fluorocarbons.

Abstract: A method for breaking foams is disclosed which comprises passing the foam to be broken through a packing material which is chemically inert with respect to the foam and which consists essentially of glass, plastic or metal having a coating thereon of a compound of the formula CF.sub.3 --(CF.sub.2).sub.n --X, wherein n is a whole number between 3 and 9, X is a functional group such as C.sub.2 H.sub.4 --SO.sub.3 --C.sub.4 H.sub.9, said coating forming a stable composition with the packing material substrate.