Abstract: A process to reduce emissions discharged from a natural gas processing system wherein the processing system includes a glycol dehydrator for absorbing water, moisture and absorbable hydrocarbons, a reboiler for heating water rich glycol, a still column in communication with the reboiler and a reflux condenser. The process includes the steps of directing vapors and gases from the still column and reflux condenser to a condenser in order to condense vapors to liquid. The gases and liquids from the condenser are directed to a condensate separator in order to separate by gravity. Non-condensible vapors and water from the condensate separator are delivered to a vaporization chamber immersed in the reboiler. Water is re-vaporized into steam and permitted to mix with non-condensible vapors in the vaporization chamber. The steam and non-condensible vapors are inducted into a combustion zone in a firetube in the reboiler. The hydrocarbons in the vapors are combusted in the firetube.

Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for forming an olefin stream from a methanol stream. A lower grade methanol, such as chemical grade or crude methanol, can be used as feed to form the olefin stream. The process uses a relatively simple distillation type step to vaporize a portion of the methanol feed stream and send the resulting vapor stream to a reaction unit to form the olefin stream. In addition, the invention provides the ability to operate the downstream recovery units with reduced fouling or plugging due to the presence of fine solids components.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for reducing the corrosion rate of iron-containing vessels within an ethylene glycol distillation system. The inventive process includes the addition of an additive component of sodium nitrite and sodium hypophosphite into such iron-containing vessels, to thereby react with iron of the inside walls and form a protective coating thereon. This process reduces the corrosion rate in iron-containing vessels of the apparatus, and reduces the catalytic effects of iron corrosion products within the system. Thus, not only is the on-stream time of the vessels extended, but also product quality is improved by reducing the aldehyde content of the final ethylene glycol product.

Abstract: A method for concentrating a water-soluble organic material wherein a mixture of the water-soluble organic material with water is distilled in a distillation column (11), and the fraction from the top (11a) of the distillation column (11) is separated by the use of a membrane separator (14) into a permeated vapor (F2) and a non-permeated vapor (F3), which comprises once condensing the fraction to form a condensate, heating the condensate in an evaporator (13) to generate a vapor (F1) having a pressure higher than the operation pressure for the distillation column (11), and introducing the vapor (F1) to the membrane separator (14), thereby separating water from the mixture.

Abstract: A system and method for removing water from a liquid desiccant such as a glycol used to dry cooled air in order to restore the desiccant to a purity up to around 97% in a closed continuous flow process. Liquid desiccant can be sprayed into cooled air in a conditioner where it gains moisture. The wet or gained desiccant can be optionally preheated in an economizing heat exchanger and then routed into a concentrator. Desiccant pure to around 97% can be removed from the concentrator, passed through an economizing heat exchanger to provide the preheating and returned to the conditioner holding area. The concentrator can be heated by steam or other means such as natural gas to boil the wet desiccant causing mixed vapor to enter a vertical distillation column where most of the glycol condenses out on the column packing or plates and returns to the concentrator.

Abstract: An improved process for separation of liquid mixtures involves vapor stripping followed by mechanical compression of the vapor which is then exposed to a permeation membrane for separation of the compressed vapor.

Abstract: A process for separating a component from a low molecular weight organic mixture by pervaporation. The process uses fluorinated membranes and is particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as methane, propylene or n-butane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating at least one propylene glycol from a mixture (M) comprising water and said propylene glycol, said process comprising (I) evaporating the mixture in at least two evaporation and/or distillation stages at decreasing operating pressures of the evaporators and/or distillation columns obtaining mixture (M?) and mixture (M?); (II) separating the mixture (M?) obtained in (I) in at least one further distillation step, obtaining a mixture (M-I) comprising at least 70 wt.-% of water and a mixture (M-II) comprising less than 30 wt.-% of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating close-boiling, homo- and heteroazeotropic mixtures by using ionic liquids. Due to the selectivity and unusual combination of properties of the ionic liquids the process is superior to conventional extractive rectification from the point of view of costs and energy.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of avoiding corrosion in the separation of methylamine from a product stream (10) which is obtained in the preparation of methylamines by gas-phase reaction of methanol and ammonia and includes monomethylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine, ammonia and methanol as components, where ammonia is separated off by pure distillation in a first column (1), the remaining components of the product stream obtained as bottoms (12) are fed to a second column (2). Trimethylamine (14) is separated off in the second column (2) by extractive distillation with introduction of water. The further of the product stream obtained as bottoms (15) from the second column (2) are fed to a third column (3), in which monomethylamine and dimethylamine are separated off at the top. The monomethylamine and dimethylamine are separated by distillation in a fourth column (4). To avoid corrosion alkali metal hydroxide is added to the second or third column (3).

Abstract: Method of regenerating a glycol solution containing water, hydrocarbons and salts. The glycol solution is expanded in drum (2), then distilled in column (7). The concentrated glycol collected at the level of reboiler (8) is placed under vacuum to vaporize the water and to precipitate the salts. The salts are separated from the glycol in separation device (13). The concentrated glycol freed of the salts is stored in capacity (16).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating 2-butanol from tert-butanol/water by adding of tert-butanol such that the water concentration lowers to less than the limit concentration of the distillation boundary line connecting the two azeotropes TBA/water and SBA/water and is subsequently worked up by distillation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for separating 2-butanol from an industrial mixture which includes 2-butanol, tert-butanol and water by separating water from the industrial mixture by distillation to obtain a distillate, wherein the distillate has, in terms of the 2-butanol, tert-butanol and water in the industrial mixture, a proportion by mass of water, which at a pressure, is greater than the limit concentration of the distillation boundary line connecting an azeotrope of tert-butanol and water; and an azeotrope of 2-butanol and water; subsequently changing the pressure so that the mixture has, in terms of the 2-butanol, tert-butanol and water in the distillate, a proportion by mass of water which is less than the limit concentration of the distillation boundary line connecting the distillation boundary line connecting an azeotrope of tert-butanol and water; and an azeotrope of 2-butanol and water; and subsequently distilling the mixture at the same pressure into a stream comprising 2-butanol and a strea

Abstract: A methanol/water scrubbing solution containing colloidal metal sulfides formed from metal carbonyls and resulting from the scrubbing of industrial gases, such as synthesis gas, is subjected to agglomeration of the metal sulfides before the scrubbing solution to be separated enters the separating column which separates the methanol from the water containing precipitated metal sulfides. The agglomeration is carried out in a precipitation vessel and the scrubbing liquid is diluted before it enters the precipitation vessel. The result is minimal encrustation of the trays or other parts of the cleaning plant for the scrubbing solution.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for oxidizing undesired compounds residing within a liquid glycol based absorbent wherein the compounds are heated within a reboiler chamber to their boiling point to effectuate production of vaporized effluents. The absorbent's vaporized effluents rise upwardly exiting the reboiler chamber and enter a reflux tower wherein they are partially condensed via a condenser embodied within the interior of the tower. The residual uncondensed effluents are then transported to and first heated via a vaporizer/heat exchanger, thus effectuating the vaporization of any ambient condensed liquids contained within the effluents. The revaporized effluents then enter the invention's thermal oxidizer combustion chamber where they are second heated to a temperature necessary to effectuate destruction of undesirable compounds, such as but not limited to benzene, toluene and xylene.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating 2-butanol from tert-butanol/water by adding of tert-butanol such that the water concentration lowers to less than the limit concentration of the distillation boundary line connecting the two azeotropes TBA/water and SBA/water and is subsequently worked up by distillation.

Abstract: A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.

Abstract: A process for producing high purity isopropyl alcohol. In one embodiment, the process includes the steps of: (a) feeding a feed stream comprising at least about 99.9 wt. % isopropyl alcohol into a separation column; (b) separating the isopropyl alcohol into an overhead stream taken overhead from the separation column and a bottoms stream taken as bottoms from the separation column; and (c) removing the high purity isopropyl alcohol at a point: (i) below where the feed stream enters the separation column but above the bottoms stream, or (ii) above where the feed stream enters the separation column but below the overhead stream. The high purity isopropyl alcohol has a metals content of less than about 1 ppb and a water content of less than about 100 ppm.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification, by distillation, of trimethylolpropane originating from the hydrogenation of 2,2-dimethylolbutanal, said process including the following steps: (a) reaction of n-butyraldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of catalytic amounts of a tertiary amine, and hydrogenation of the resulting mixture to give a mixture containing trimethylolpropane; (b) separation of water, methanol, trialkylamine and/or trialkylammonium formate by distillation; (c) heating of the residue obtained in (b) under reduced pressure to a temperature at which TMP is volatile and compounds boiling above TMP are cleaved, in order to separate off, by distillation, TMP and compounds more volatile than TMP; (d) distillation of the distillate obtained in (c) in order to separate off the more volatile compounds and recover pure TMP; and (e) optional distillation of the TMP obtained in (d) in order to recover TMP with a low APHA color index.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reclaiming deicer from produced water of an oil or gas well includes a fractionation tower having a top condenser section, a bottom heat exchanger section and an intermediate packing section. A deicer outlet is positioned in the condenser section, for removal of condensed deicer. An inlet is provided to receive produced water contaminated by deicer. The inlet is coupled to the condenser section such that produced water must pass through the condenser to enter the inlet. A water outlet is provided in the heat exchanger section. Operation of the water outlet is controlled to maintain a predetermined level of accumulated water in the heat exchanger section. The heat exchanger is adapted to be coupled with a source of hot fluids produced by an external heat source. The circulation of hot fluids through the heat exchanger heats accumulated water in the heat exchanger section.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of substantially pure alkyl alkanoate, such as ethyl acetate, from an impure feedstock. The impure feedstock is contacted with a selective hydrogenation catalyst in the presence of hydrogen in a selective hydrogenation zone maintained under selective hydrogenation conditions effective for selective hydrogenation of impurities containing reactive carbonyl groups thereby to hydrogenate the impurities to the corresponding alcohols. After recovery from the selective hydrogenation zone of a selectively hydrogenated reaction product mixture including the alkyl alkanoate and the corresponding alcohols, this is distilled in one or more distillation zones so as to produce substantially pure alkyl alkanoate therefrom which is recovered.

Abstract: A process for the distillative recovery of high purity monoethylene glycol from the hydrolysis, product of ethylene oxide by pressure dewatering, preferably in a battery, vacuum dewatering and subsequent purifying distillation, wherein during the vacuum dewatering an aqueous stream is withdrawn which contains-monoethylene glycol in a concentration below 1% by weight, preferably below 0.1% by weight, medium boilers and low boilers. The withdrawn aqueous stream is, optionally after further workup, removed from the system.

Abstract: A process for the distillative recovery of high purity monoethylene glycol from the hydrolysis product of ethylene oxide by pressure dewatering, vacuum dewatering and subsequent purifying distillation, which includes the pressure dewatering columns or at least the first pressure dewatering column of the battery (2, 3, 4) having a stripping section with at least one separating stage, preferably with from 2 to 10 separating stages, particularly preferably with from 3 to 6 stages, and a portion of the overhead stream of the pressure dewatering column(s) (2, 3, 4) having a stripping section being removed from the system.

Abstract: A process for separating water from methanol in an aqueous methanol initial mixture, comprising subjecting said mixture to azeotropic distillation in the presence of sufficient added methyl acrylate to form an azeotrope with most of the methanol in said initial mixture such that a substantial proportion of methanol in the initial mixture is removed as an azeotrope of methanol and methyl acrylate in the overhead vapors resulting from said distillation and a major proportion of water in said initial mixture is removed in the liquid residue of said distillation.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification, by distillation, of trimethylolpropane originating from the hydrogenation of 2,2-dimethylolbutanal, said process comprising the following steps:

Abstract: A process for separating water from methanol in an aqueous methanol initial mixture, including subjecting said mixture to azeotropic distillation in the presence of sufficient added methyl acrylate to form an azeotrope with most of the methanol in said initial mixture such that a substantial proportion of methanol in the initial mixture is removed as an azeotrope of methanol and methyl acrylate in the overhead vapors resulting from said distillation and a major proportion of water in said initial mixture is removed in the liquid residue of said distillation.

Abstract: The present invention reduces the energy required to distill fluids (water, light crude, etc.) and operate electric and/or power generate steam turbines through a process of encapsulating these systems in reduced atmospheric temperature environments. This invention includes both the innovative process of operating existing distillers and turbines in a vacuum, and introduces an energy free process for drawing the vacuum the systems operate in.

Abstract: A process for separating water from methanol in an aqueous methanol initial mixture, comprising subjecting said mixture to azeotropic distillation in the presence of sufficient added methyl acrylate to form an azeotrope with most of the methanol in said initial mixture such that a substantial proportion of methanol in the initial mixture is removed as an azeotrope of methanol and methyl acrylate in the overhead vapors resulting from said distillation and a major proportion of water in said initial mixture is removed in the liquid residue of said distillation.

Abstract: Unlike standard atmospheric glycol reconcentration units with reboilers, which release into the atmosphere column overheads containing water vapor, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), H2S (hydrogen sulfide) and other gaseous (including vaporous) pollutants extracted from lean glycol, the disclosed apparatus directs the overheads to the plant fuel system, or to a thermal/catalytic oxidation system, or to a compressor which is already in service compressing low pressure lease-produced gas or to a combination of these destinations. The reboiler operating pressure is maintained in the range of about 25 to about 125 PSIA. When using a stripper, which may either be in or downstream of the reboiler, one may for example achieve a 98.5+% TEG concentration at a reboiler pressure of 75 PSIA and a temperature of 390° F., using approximately 10 SCF of stripping gas per gallon of glycol circulated.

Abstract: A process for recovering glycols from used glycol-containing technical fluids, especially from used antifreeze comprises adding to the used glycol-containing technical fluids an organic solvent which forms with the glycol to be separated off an azeotropic mixture which has a lower boiling point than the glycol itself and distilling off this azeotropic mixture.

Abstract: A glycol regenerating system wherein a pressurized reboiler is introduced to a typical prior art system, the pressurized reboiler being in the glycol stream upstream from the conventional atmospheric reboiler. The pressurized reboiler heats the rich glycol coming from the glycol contactor from about 300° F. to 400° F. and keeps the glycol under pressure from about 10-25 psig. in order to first distill and condense VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which constitute non-condensable hydrocarbons and condensable hydrocarbons such as BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) compounds, the components being conveniently under pressure for transporting the components to a desired location.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the simultaneous co-production of ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate. The process involves reacting a reaction mixture of ethanol, n-butanol and acetic acid in the liquid phase, in the presence of an acidic catalyst. The process is carried out in a series of reactor and distillation columns. The process is capable of using relatively impure reactants and provides for removing some of the aldehyde type impurities by the use of resin guard beds.

Abstract: A process as been found for the removal of water from reaction mixtures of acids or acid anhydrides or of aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solutions with alcohols using vapor permeation/pervaporation at the boiling point of the reaction mixture, which includes initially introducing the lowest-boiling educt in less than the stoichiometric amount, based on the other particular educt, together with this other educt, heating the reaction mixture to the boiling point and freeing the vapor mixture, which is formed from the boiling reaction mixture and includes chiefly water and the lowest-boiling component, from water on a membrane, recycling the vapor mixture which has been freed from water into the reaction mixture and topping up the reaction mixture with the lowest-boiling educt in the course of the reaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus permits concentration of a water-miscible organic liquid in a mixture of such liquid and water, with recovery of a desired concentrate of the water-miscible organic liquid and water, and a relatively clean water containing only a very low content of the water-miscible organic liquid which enables disposal of the water in sewage systems, the method and apparatus thus enhancing the ability to satisfy environmental concerns; the method has particular application to the recovery of a reusable glycol/water mixture from diluted spent aircraft deicer fluid (ADF).

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for working up the alcohol-containing wastewater which is obtained in the hydrolysis of silanes of the general formula IR.sup.1.sub.a SiCl.sub.b (OR.sup.2).sub.4-a-b (I),whereR.sup.1 are hydrogen atoms or identical or different monovalent, unsubstituted or halogen-substituted, SiC-bonded C.sub.1 -C.sub.18 -hydrocarbon radicals,R.sup.2 are identical or different monovalent C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 -hydrocarbon radicals,a is 0, 1, 2 or 3, on average from 0.3 to 1.9, andb is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, on average from 0.0 to 3.0,with the proviso that the sum a+b is on average at most 3.5, for the preparation of silicone resins, wherein, in the first step, the wastewater is made alkaline by addition of alkali and, in the second step, the alcohol is removed from the resulting alkaline solution or suspension by injection of steam.

Abstract: A deicing fluid recovery system for aircraft deicing apparatus includes a storage tank from which a deicing fluid/water deicing mixture is pumped through a line heater to a deicing fluid distribution and collection zone for application to the wings and fuselage of aircraft. Expended deicing fluid is collected in a drainage system incorporated into a concrete or asphalt pad and directed to a sump. Upon accumulation of a sufficient quantity, the diluted used deicing fluid is pumped to a sludge tank. Solids and free water are separated by settling and filtration processes in the sludge tank. The filtered deicing fluid mixture is heated through sequential heat exchangers and directed to a regenerator. The deicing fluid mixture is leaned by a dehydration process in the regenerator in which the mixture is heated and compressed air is injected to exhaust water from a stripping column. The lean deicing fluid flows over an overflow weir into an accumulator.

Abstract: A method for the on-site reprocessing of isopropyl alcohol used in semiconductor manufacturing, to generate an ultradry and ultrapure isopropyl alcohol. This ultradry and ultrapure isopropyl alcohol is produced through a pervaporation step, followed by double distillation. In the first distillation step, an autonomous azeotropic self-stripping distillation column is used to produce an ultradry and partially purified isopropyl alcohol. In the next step, the isopropyl alcohol is distilled in an overhead product distillation column, to produce an ultrapure and ultradry isopropyl alcohol. Alternatively, if the feed isopropyl alcohol contains less than 2000 ppm water, the pervaporation step may be omitted.The resulting isopropyl alcohol has between a high of 100 parts per million (ppm) and a low of 0.1 ppm of water in the isopropyl alcohol. It also has zero particles per milliliter of a size larger than 2.0 microns, zero to 2 particles per milliliter of a size of 0.5 micron to 2.

Abstract: Acetaldehyde may be effectively removed from a contaminated methanol stream using a distillation method wherein a solvent stream containing a relatively heavy polar compound such as water or propylene glycol is utilized as an extractive distillation solvent. Following the separation of the polar compound from the bottoms stream obtained by extractive distillation, the purified methanol may be recycled for use as a reaction solvent in an olefin epoxidation process.

Abstract: A process for the preparation and fractionation of a mixture of dimethyl ether and chloromethane by extractive distillation with water as extractant. The mixture is prepared by reacting methanol with hydrogen chloride. It is then subjected to an extractive distillation with water as extractant, resulting in chloromethane as top product. In the next step, the dimethyl ether is removed by distillation and, in another step, the extraction water is separated from the methanol which is still present.

Abstract: A system for lowering the ambient temperature of a vapor being produced from a glycol dehydrator unit, as well as a system for reducing the emissions of BTEX is disclosed. Generally, the system comprises a condenser for condensing the vapor into a fluid phase and a gas phase, and a storage tank, fluidly connected to the outlet of the condenser. The system will also contain a pump member, operatively associated with the storage tank, adapted for pumping the fluid phase from the storage tank; and, a activating member adapted for activating the pump means after the fluid phase reaches a predetermined level within the storage tank. The system will include as part of the condenser member a turbine associated with a roof, with the roof being generally positioned over the condenser coils so as to shade the condenser coils. A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a vapor phase as well as lowering the ambient temperature is also disclosed.

Abstract: Phenol dissolved in an aqueous sulphatic stream discharged from a reactor in which cumene hydroperoxide is oxidized to phenol and acetone is recovered by extracting phenol present in said aqueous sulphatic stream containing phenol, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4 and organic impurities, in a multi-step extractor with an organic solvent, thereby forming an extracted product organic phase and a refined aqueous product phase, the ratio of the extracted product phase to the refined product phase ranging from 0.1 to 1 v/v at a temperature ranging from 20.degree.-70.degree. C., and obtaining phenol by distillation or re-extraction of the recovered extracted product organic phase.

Abstract: Ethanol, isopropanol and water cannot be separated from each other by distillation or rectification because of minimum azeotropes. They are readily separated by extractive distillation. Effective agents are: dimethylsulfoxide for ethanol, phenol for isopropanol.

Abstract: A process for purifying a raw natural gas stream is provided by contacting the gas stream with an absorbant to remove water and hydrocarbon impurities, separating the water and hydrocarbon impurities and absorbant from the gas stream, separating the absorbant from the water and hydrocarbon impurities to provide a liquid absorbant stream and a water vapor and hydrocarbon vapor stream, condensing the water vapor and a portion of the hydrocarbon vapor stream to provide a mixed liquid/vapor stream, passing the mixed stream through a pump capable of pumping a mixed stream, and disposing of the thus-reduced volume, higher pressure, mixed stream. One aspect of the invention provides for the reintroduction of the mixed stream to the process with the raw natural gas, thereby eliminating volatile organic compound disposal concerns.

Abstract: The process claimed enables three separate streams to be obtained, from mixtures containing methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isobutanol, water and other both low- and high-boiling compounds, of which one is anhydrous basically consisting of methanol and ethanol (I), one containing most of the n-propanol present in the mixture fed (II), together with small quantities of methanol, ethanol, isobutanol and water, and one containing most of the isobutanol and high-boiling compounds present in the above mixture (III), by the use of three rectifying columns, stream (I) being taken from a lateral point of the first column, stream (II) obtained from the head of the second column, stream (III) obtained from the bottom of the second column.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate gas. The system includes apparatus for converting all the organic constituents to a gaseous phase; and utilizing the gaseous organic constituents in the separation of the water from the dehydration fluid.

Abstract: A method of removing solvents from a paste includes introducing a heated paste into a channel of a dryer under pressure selected so as to avoid flashing of any of the components of the paste. At the inlet of the channel, the pressure is dropped, resulting in the flashing of selected components of the paste. As the paste advances through the channel heat is applied to the paste. Vapor liberated during the flashing acts as a motive force to convey the paste along the channel. The resulting concentrate is collected at an outlet of the channel.

Abstract: A method of drying a gas making use of the distillation of a liquid desiccant, the method comprising the introduction of a stream of make-up liquid containing water and of an organic solvent miscible with water, the solvent being a more volatile solvent than water under the conditions of the method and forming no azeotropes with water, in an intermediate zone of an elongated vertical contact and fractional distillation zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the treatment of contaminated ethylene glycol resulting during a polycondensation process for the production of polyester. In the course of this polycondensation process contaminated ethylene glycol is continuously predistilled, subjected as a distillation residue to secondary distillation, condensed and then returned to the polycondensation process as decontaminated ethylene glycol, so that an in-line recovery is achieved, which makes superfluous an external distillation installation for the treatment of contaminated ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate natural gas. The system includes a device to assure positive flow of the water and organic constituent vapor out of the regenerator, to, in turn, control back pressure associated with the regenerator during the distillation process.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate gas. The system includes apparatus for converting all the organic constituents to a gaseous phase, and utilizing the gaseous organic constituents in the separation of the water from the dehydration fluid.