Abstract: The invention is an electrostatic coalescer testing apparatus for testing the ability of chemical additives to facilitate electrostatic coalescence of water in a water hydrocarbon-containing mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates a mixer assembly for mixing liquids in a tubular container including: (a.) an electrically conductive central shaft member, (1) having a top end portion and a bottom end portion; (2) where the central shaft member is oriented longitudinally along the length of the mixing blade assembly; and (3) wherein the central shaft member is threaded along at least a portion of its circumference; (b.) a plurality of shearing members fixedly attached to the central shaft member for shearing the liquids when the shaft member is rotated; (c.

Abstract: A process for producing lower alcohols is presented in which an olefinic feed and H.sub.2 SO.sub.4 react to form a mixture comprising alkyl sulfates, alkyl disulfates, fat acid, and nonpolar hydrocarbons. The mixture is separated into two phases, a nonpolar phase comprising nonpolar hydrocarbons and a polar phase comprising alkyl sulfates, alkyl disulfates, and fat acids. A rag-layer that forms between the nonpolar and polar phases comprising carbonaceous particulate material is removed by contact with an extraction reagent. This can be a slip stream comprising an etheric derivative of the olefinic feed and an oligomeric derivative of the feed which is withdrawn from a subsequent step the process. This forms a separate hydrocarbon phase which is then extracted. The sulfates are then hydrolyzed to form alcohol.

Abstract: Stable high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions containing polymerizable vinyl monomers, crosslinking monomers and polymerization initiators are obtained by using saccharide fatty acid esters as surfactants. The amount of surfactants necessary to form stable high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions is decreased by using saccharide fatty acid esters as surfactants. Further, hydrophobic foams can be obtained by using saccharide fatty acid esters.

Abstract: Stable high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions containing polymerizable vinyl monomers, crosslinking monomers and polymerization initiators are obtained by using saccharide fatty acid esters as surfactants. The amount of surfactants necessary to form stable high internal phase water-in-oil emulsions is decreased by using saccharide fatty acid esters as surfactants. Further, hydrophobic foams can be obtained by using saccharide fatty acid esters.

Abstract: Polyol impurities in a sorbitan ester mixture is removed by treating a polyol-containing sorbitan ester dissolved in a solution containing a hydrocarbon and a polar organic solvent with an aqueous metal halide salt solution.