Abstract: A system and process for removing water and heteroatom-containing compounds from hydrocarbons and for regenerating the adsorbent used in the system and process is disclosed and includes contacting the hydrocarbon stream with a water adsorbent and a heteroatom-containing compound adsorbent. The regeneration includes passing an isoparaffin over the water-adsorbent followed by passing the isoparaffin over the heteroatom-containing compound adsorbent; and, optionally; cooling the resulting effluent; separating such into a hydrocarbon phase and a water phase in a settler; removing a portion of the hydrocarbon phase for contact with and mixing with water; returning the hydrocarbon/water mixture to the settler; removing a portion of the hydrocarbon phase from the settler to form a recycle isoparaffin stream for use as at least a portion of the stripping stream; and removal of at least a portion of the water phase from the settler to form a waste water stream containing water and heteroatom-containing compound.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for desorbtion is disclosed that utilizes enhancements to lessen the amount of entrained particles formed during desorbtion and for lowering the operating and capital costs associated with desorbtion equipment. Multiple stage desorbtion is contemplated using multiple drums, with smaller drums being employed for volatizing the waste components that require high temperatures. The method and apparatus may include an eductor scrubber attached directly or adjacent to the gas extraction port of a drum to prevent fouling of system apparatus. A plunger for cleaning the scrubber suction chamber is provided. The method and process may include injecting hot gas, which may be exhaust gas from a burner apparatus, into one or more desorption drums to lower heating costs.

Abstract: A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintained at a temperature sufficient to vaporize any water contacting the surface from crude oil to be treated in the dehydrator. It has been found important to maintain a substantially uniform temperature at or below the vaporizing surface in order to effectively treat crude oil for dewatering purposes. Significant temperature fluctuations are typically realized by dehydrators since heat enthalpy is removed in order to vaporize the water in the crude oil. Such fluctuations lead to process complications and upset and are therefore undesirable. The instant invention recognizes this limitation and substantially reduces foaming and provides for a smoothly running and efficient dehydration process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating water from oil includes creating a vacuum in a container so that oil which contains water and gas bubbles is drawn upward through a first section of the container. At the top of the first section, the oil impacts a baffle plate, thereby releasing water vapor. The oil then flows downward through an obstruction component in a second section of the container, thereby releasing additional water vapor.

Abstract: A method for contaminant and water removal from crude oil. The method involves recirculating at least a portion of the dewatered crude into a dehydrator. The dehydrator contains a heated dehydrated crude oil and the surface or adjacent thereto is maintained at a temperature sufficient to vaporize any water contacting the surface from crude oil to be treated in the dehydrator. It has been found important to maintain a substantially uniform temperature at or below the vaporizing surface in order to effectively treat crude oil for dewatering purposes. Significant temperature fluctuations are typically realized by dehydrators since heat enthalpy is removed in order to vaporize the water in the crude oil. Such fluctuations lead to process complications and upset and are therefore undesirable. The instant invention recognizes this limitation and substantially reduces foaming and provides for a smoothly running and efficient dehydration process.

Abstract: A system is provided which is capable of measuring the thickness of an emulsion layer in a desalter, with high precision and in real time.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means of removing water, antifreeze and fuel from lubricating or hydraulic oil by evaporating these impurities and venting them out of the purifier. The oil is heated by heat of an exposed horizontal heating wand within the evaporator. The oil then passes over the upper lip of the evaporator and cascades downward over the evaporator's ridged outer surface, thereby impeding the flow of oil and increasing the rate of evaporation of the impurities. The evaporated impurities then rise upward along the interior of the domed cover and are vented out of the purifier.

Abstract: The invention is a process of removing solids, particularly catalyst fines, from an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid. The process comprises contacting an asphaltene-containing hydrocarbon liquid with a solvent to create a mixture. The solvent is typically an alkane such as, propane to pentanes. Then, solids are removed from the mixture by any known process. Finally, additional solvent may be added, and the mixture heated until asphaltenes precipitate into a separate phase. The asphaltenes are removed from the mixture. The mixture is then further heated to recover the solvent from the deasphalted hydrocarbon liquid. The asphaltenes are advantageously gasified.

Abstract: A method for recycling a waste stream containing water and solids comprises (a) removing water from the waste stream to produce a second stream containing less than 60% by weight water, (b) drying the second stream to produce a waste feed charge containing less than 15% by weight water, and (c) injecting the waste feed charge into a coker during the coking cycle. The water removal can be carried out in one or more steps, and can be carried out in a vertical disk centrifuge if it is also desired to reduce the particle size of the solids fraction. The waste feed charge can be injected into a delayed coker, flexicoker, or fluid coker, and allows the recycle of solid waste into the coke.

Abstract: The use of high flash point, low vapor pressure compositions for injection into, and coating of, gas and oil wells and surrounding underground hydrocarbon bearing formations and processing equipment for the purpose of removing scale, paraffins, tars, and other viscous constituents. Treatment results in increased flow of gas and/or oil and decreased adhesion of soils and scale in all aspects of oil and gas recovery, including hydrocarbon bearing formations, casings, lines, and pumping equipment. The composition contains about 40 to 99 wt. % of a fatty acid alkyl ester blend and about 1 to 25 wt. % of at least one lower alkyl glycol ether.

Abstract: An aqueous composition containing an amine oxide surfactant, and preferably containing an amine oxide surfactant and enzymes, is added to crude oil, preferably by injecting the composition into the oil well, or adding the composition to pipelines or tankage containing the oil. An acid can also be used in conjunction with the composition. The composition acts to remove hydrocarbon contamination, from the well bore and mechanical components and further serves to break up the oil/water/sludge emulsion being delivered from the well head to facilitate separation of the oil. When used with an acid, the composition increases the effectiveness of the acid in removing inorganic contamination.

Abstract: Used lubricating oil containing unacceptable levels of moisture and ash-forming contaminants is dried and clarified by a process that includes flash drying, heat treating at a temperature within the range of 600.degree.-700.degree. F. for 2-5 hours, and cooling the heat treated oil. Optional internal recycle of the product from each of these steps can help enhance the clarification process.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved in-line contaminant removal from engine lubricating oil are provided which employ gravity to achieve a desired flow rate of oil. The invention is adapted for use with an existing engine oil lubrication system and continuously processes a side stream that after processing, is returned to the engine oil. During processing, the oil is first filtered and then drained and deposited upon the upper central surface portions of a heated dome whereon the oil forms a thin film from which relatively low boiling volatile impurities (especially water) are rapidly separated in a gaseous state. The gas is vented through a pressure relief valve to the manifold while the recovered reconditioned oil is collected and recycled.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting or retarding formation of hydrates from water and a lower alkane, such as methane or ethane, involves adding additives which comprise (i) a corrosion inhibitor and (ii) a salt which is of formula [R.sup.1 (R.sup.2)XR.sup.3 ].sup.+ Y.sup.-, wherein each of R.sup.1, R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 is bonded directly to X, each of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2, which may be the same or different is an alkyl group of at least 4 carbons, X is S, NR.sup.4 or PR.sup.4, wherein each of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 which may be the same or different represents hydrogen or an organic group, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 is an organic group of at least 4 carbons, and Y is an anion, the additives being added in an amount effective to inhibit or retard hydrate formation, to a medium susceptible to hydrate formation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for treating a crude oil containing water. An inlet introduces a flow of the crude oil into the apparatus, wherein at least a portion of the water is a vapor. A first separator disrupts the crude oil flow in order to separate at least a portion of the vapor from the crude oil to produce a treated oil. A heater heats the treated oil to produce a heated treated oil. Means for recycling a first amount of the heated treated oil from the heater to the inlet are provided. The first amount is at least sufficient to heat the crude oil to a temperature such that at least a portion of the water forms the vapor. At least one oil outlet removes the treated oil and at least one vapor outlet removes the vapor. Finally, means are provided for producing the flow of the crude oil. The process is preferably conducted using the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for continuously producing clathrate hydrate. This process includes comprising the steps of:(a) pressurizing a hydrate-forming gas to an elevated pressure and cooling the hydrate-forming gas below the gas-water-hydrate equilibrium point at the elevated pressure;(b) cooling liquid water below the gas-water-hydrate equilibrium temperature for the elevated pressure;(c) charging hydrate-forming gas at the elevated pressure into a reaction zone which contains a movable surface;(d) atomizing water in the reaction zone in contact with the hydrate-forming gas to form gas hydrates in the reaction;(e) depositing the gas hydrates on the movable surface; and(f) collecting the gas hydrates from the movable surface.

Abstract: A process for removing water from heavy crude oil uses an inorganic salt which is a Group IA or Group IIA metal halide or nitrate salts. The crude oil is in the form of a water-in-oil emulsion with water content of 8% (by weight) or less. The salt is stirred into the crude oil. The resulting mixture is warmed. A water layer with added salts and an oil layer form. The salts are water soluble and settle out of the crude oil layer with the water.

Abstract: An installation for cleaning oil-polluted water, in particular at oil and gas production plants, is provided with a distillation column having a polluted water feed and at least one contact packing above which the outlet of the polluted water feed is located, a vapor discharge, a clean water outlet and a measuring device for the analysis of the water from the clean water outlet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and a method for separating a hydrocarbon containing material such as crude oil from water. The system of the present invention includes a treatment tank, a layer of a fluid having a chemical affinity for the hydrocarbon contain material being separated within the tank for separating the hydrocarbon containing material from said water without any mixing and with a minimum level of turbulence, and a distribution system for introducing the water with the hydrocarbon containing material into the layer of chemical affinity fluid. The method of the present invention broadly comprises the steps of providing a treatment tank having a layer of a fluid having a chemical affinity for the hydrocarbon containing material and separating the hydrocarbon containing material from the water without any mixing and with a minimum of turbulence by introducing the water with the hydrocarbon containing material into the layer of chemical affinity fluid.

Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy crude oil production is described which involves adding a diluent, or solvent, which is a light hydrocarbon to reduce the viscosity and specific gravity of the crude oil being processed. After dilution, the emulsions in the crude are broken and the separation of the crude into the components follows, aided by a second injection of diluent. This upgrades the crude and enhances the amount recovered for processing at a refinery. A high asphalt content of a heavy crude can also be tolerated in the practice of this invention resulting in environmentally-benign solids and water exiting a process which due to the modularization of equipment can be practiced at the well-head itself.

Abstract: In a method for thermally reforming an emulsion, comprising removing water and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt contained in an oil-in-water type emulsion of a tarry material or a heavy fuel oil (e.g., ORINOCO BITUMEN), sulfuric acid is added, in an amount of preferably 0.05% to 1.0% by weight based on the emulsion, to the emulsion, the mixture is allowed to stand at such a temperature as to give a difference in density between separated water and heavy fuel oil, preferably for 10 min or more, to permit oil-water separation, and the separated oil phase is withdrawn. When the tarry material is ORINOCO BITUMEN, an emulsion made of ORINOCO BITUMEN is thermochemically reformed by adding 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of sulfuric acid to ORINOCO BITUMEN, allowing the mixture to stand under pressure at a temperature of 170.degree. to 200.degree. C.

Abstract: An invention is disclosed whereby refinery waste emulsion streams such as API slop oils, desalter rag layer emulsions, mud pit sludges and the like having high viscosities and specific gravity approaching that of water can be treated for the recovery of processable oil values which had previously been unavailable by adding a sufficient amount of a light hydrocarbon diluent to the emulsion to lower its overall viscosity and to reduce the specific gravity of the oil phase to less than about 0.92. The diluted emulsions are subjected to flashing at emulsion-breaking conditions after which the oil is recovered from the various streams created in the flashing steps.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of:(a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16);(b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilization of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char);(c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20);(d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24);(e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24);(f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and(g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).

Abstract: A treatment of waste petroleum (60,70) is disclosed by decoupling association of the petroleum component to contaminants by solvent treatment (92,94) of the petroleum component, followed by ultrasonic treatment (59,71), separating the contaminants by extraction with a non-solvent (44,46) for the petroleum and solvent and then separating the petroleum. The washed petroleum is then distilled to remove solvent followed by hydroseparation and centrifugation to isolate the petroleum (67). The solids can be subjected to a hot fluid treatment in a toroidal dynamic bed (50) to free up the petroleum residues in the solid particles.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of organic sludges, the process comprising the steps of:(a) feeding dried sludge through a first reactor (16);(b) heating the dried sludge in the first reactor (16) in the absence of oxygen for the volatilisation of oil producing organic materials therein, resulting in gaseous products and sludge residue (char);(c) condensing oil from the gaseous products of the first reactor (16) in a condenser system (20);(d) reinjecting water free oil and/or non-condensable products, if any, into a second reactor (24);(e) transferring the sludge residue (char) from the first reactor (16) to the second reactor (24);(f) contacting the heated sludge residue from step (b) in the second reactor (24) with the oil and/or any non-condensable products of steps (c) and (d) in the absence of oxygen to allow the generation of clean products and a high quality oil product; and(g) removing the gaseous products from the second reactor (24).

Abstract: Gasses, water and solvents, major contaminants in used lubricating oils, can be removed from used lubricating oils at mild temperature conditions under vacuum. Apparatus in which the removal can take place includes a hollow vacuum separator vessel with a spray nozzle to spray an ultra fine spray of warm, used lubricating oil onto an angularly disposed thin film separator plate. In conjunction with the plate is a cooling device within the vacuum chamber. Cleaned oil can be passed from the bottom back into a holding tank, while water and solvents are drained out into a separate tank for safe disposal.

Abstract: A method of removing aqueous phase residues and other contaminants from the organic phase used in hydrometallurgical extraction processes comprises passing the organic phase through a column or other vessel in which a porous bed of elements of suitable size and shape to permit flow therethrough is provided. The material making up the bed elements may be polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, teflon, stainless steel, plastics in general and their derivatives, or combinations thereof. The aqueous phase coalesces on the surfaces of the materials making up the bed and forms droplets which drop to the bottom of the column or vessel which are thereafter removed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process and plant for purifying spent oil, comprising dehydration, preferably by atmospheric distillation, directly followed by vacuum distillation producing a residue and at least one distilled oil fraction. The vacuum residue directly undergoes solvent extraction and the clarified oil obtained and the distilled oil fraction(s) undergo finishing hydrotreatment.

Abstract: A process for separating vaporous mixtures of hydrocarbons, water and emulsifier derived from the remediation of wellbore fluid, such as a mud containing solid particulate material in which the vaporous mixture is quenched with a hydrocarbon stream which is at a temperature above the boiling point of water and below the boiling point of the hydrocarbons in the vaporous stream. Most of the hydrocarbons in the vaporous stream and substantially all of the emulsifier are condensed into the hydrocarbon quench to form an oil stream. The water is recovered from the hydrocarbon quench as a vaporous stream and quenched with water. The quenched water and any residual heavier hydrocarbons are separated by phase separation.

Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.

Abstract: A combination of aluminum chlorohydrate and a polyamine, such as polydiallyldimethyl ammonium chloride in an aqueous solution is described which is an effective emulsion breaker for reverse (oil-in-water) emulsions. The combination is effective at elevated temperatures and in a matrix comprising mostly oil as encountered in a crude oil desalter unit.

Abstract: A method for dewatering mineral slurries employing a copolymer of diallyldimethlylammonium halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane, which is preferably a copolymer of diallyldimethylammonium chloride and vinyltrimethoxysilane as a coagulant is disclosed. The method for dewatering mineral slurries containing water comprising the steps of: feeding said mineral slurry into a thickener, treating said mineral slurry with an effective amount of a coagulant which comprises a copolymer of halide and a vinyl alkoxysilane; allowing the water to separate from the mineral slurry, withdrawing the water from said thickener and discharging said mineral products from said thickener. Mineral slurries which can be effectively treated are copper and taconite. The above-mentioned method may also include treatment with a flocculant in conjunction with the coagulant.

Abstract: A process is described for removing chlorides from crude oils, including heavy oils and bitumens. The process steps comprise (1) mixing a non-ionic surfactant with the crude oil, (2) bubbling a gas into the crude oil-surfactant mixture to form a froth, (3) centrifuging the frothed mixture to obtain a chloride containing sediment and an oil product of reduced chloride content and (4) collecting the oil product.

Abstract: Method for the production of gas hydrates for storage and transportation of hydrate forming gases. The gas is pressurized and cooled, whereupon the gas (1b) is supplied to a vessel (6), to which water (7) is added simultaneously to the vessel (6) to form fine water droplets that are dispersed in the gas (1b) supplied. The temperature and pressure in the vessel (6) are adjusted to produce hydrate from water and gas. The gas (1b) supplied and the water droplets (7) react to form hydrate (8a); then the hydrate is then withdrawn from the reactor (6), optionally cooled in a cooling apparatus (11), and then passed to an agglomeration step (12) to agglomerate the hydrate (8a), thus increasing the density of the hydrate (8a) and to embed more gas in the interstices between the hydrate particles (8a).

Abstract: A method for dehydrating a liquid/liquid production stream which is comprised of a heavy crude oil (i.e. about 30.degree. A.P.I. or less) and water which originally forms a water-in-oil emulsion wherein hydrocyclone is used as a primary separator to separate substantial amounts of the water from the stream. The stream is first treated without chemicals to sustantially alter of its characteristics by either (a) heating the stream to substantially reduce the viscosity of the heavy crude therein and/or (b) inverting the emulsion in the stream to an oil-in-water emulsion. Once the characteristics of the stream are so altered, the stream is passed through the primary hydrocyclone to separate out a significant amount (e.g. about 50% or more) of the water. The stream is then passed either to a second hydrocyclone or a stablization tower to separate additional water from the oil and bring it within shipping and/or sale specifications.

Abstract: A process for the dehydration and/or desalination and simultaneous fractionation of a petroleum deposit effluent containing oil, associated gas and water which can be saline, which process comprises:(a) at least one step for separating the liquid and gaseous phases at the pressure P1 for removal of the gas, producing a gaseous fraction G1, on the one hand, which is removed and a liquid fraction L1, on the other hand, which is sent to step(b) at least one step for separating, at least partly, the two liquid phases mixed in the liquid fraction L1, the aqueous phase being partly removed and the oil phase containing a quantity of residual aqueous phase being sent to step (c);(c) at least one distillation step carried out at a pressure P2 which is less than, or at the most equal to, the pressure P1 in step (a), in a distillation zone C1, said distillation being carried out in the presence of the oil phase coming from step (b), said zone C1 comprising an internal heat exchange zone and a boiling zone, and enabling

Abstract: A method of dehydrating a solvent originating from a hydrocarbon dewaxing operation, wherein a moist composite organic solvent, for example a moist MEK/toluene mixture is dehydrated in a first distillation zone, the resulting first distillate is contacted with water to form two phases one of which, rich in organic solvent, is returned as a reflux to the first distillation zone whereas the other phase rich in water is distilled in a second distillation zone, and the head product and one portion of the bottom product of the second distillation zone are returned to the zone of contact between the first distillate and water, the invention being applicable to the dewaxing of lubricating oils.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for reducing the agglomeration tendency of hydrates within a fluid containing water and gas by adding a nonionic, amphiphilic compound obtained by reacting at least one polyalkenylsuccinic anhydride or acid with a polyethylene glycol monoether. The nonionic, amphiphilic compound is generally introduced in a concentration of 0.1 to 5% by weight, based on the water present.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating and desalting an oil-in-water emulsion includes the steps of: injecting a demulsifier into the flow to destabilize the emulsion; injecting water to promote desalting; and passing the flow through a mixing pipeline having a length (L) and inside diameter (D) determined as follows: ##EQU1## wherein: f--is a Fanning Friction factor.rho..sub.e --is a density of the emulsion (gm/cc);Q.sub.e --is a flow rate of the emulsion (bbl/day);.mu..sub.e --is a viscosity of the emulsion (poise);K--is an instrument constant of a dynamic coalescer;F--is a rotational speed of the dynamic coalescer (rpm);t--is a mixing time (hr);D--is the inside diameter of mixing pipeline (inches); andL--is the length of the mixing pipeline (km).

Abstract: A portable refinery including a refining vessel, a heater for providing heat to the refining vessel, dewatering devices, and a storage tank mounted on a skid which can be quickly and easily transported to a reservoir of petroleum or waste petroleum products to refine the petroleum or waste petroleum into diesel grade fuel at the reservoir.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for dewatering a recovered oil stream prior to the recovered oil stream being fed to a fractionator for reprocessing into product s rea s uses a blowdown drum controlled like a drstillatron tower so that the bottoms temperature of the blowdown drum is maintained at a temperature above the dewpoint temperature of the water in the blowdown drum by a reboiler. For refineries that contain a delayed coker unit and a coker fractionator which is used for fractionating light products from residual oil serving as coker feedstock, which coker fractionator is also used to fractionate recovered oil containing water and hydrocarbons, a coker blowdown drum is controlled to maintain an appropriate bottoms temperature to achieve separation in the blowdown drum of water from the hydrocarbons in the recovered oil stream, and the blowdown drum is thus used for dewatering the recovered oil before it is fed to the coker fractionator.

Abstract: A process is described for purifying an oil-containing liquid to remove aqueous and solid impurities which comprises passing said liquid through a permeable inorganic membrane previously treated by contacting the membrane with an organic reactant selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphinic acid, a monocarboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a boronic acid, a phosphoric acid ester and a precursor which decomposes upon contact with said inorganic membrane to form one of said organic reactants whereby the treated membrane is capable of separating aqueous and solid impurities from hydrocarbons in the oil-containing liquid.

Abstract: The use of electrostatic demulsification methods to separate fine particulates of differing surface characteristics is disclosed. In one example, particles of hydrophobic coal and hydrophilic kaolin clay, each of nominal 3.5 micron mass mean particle diameter, were separated from a variety of stable water-in-oil emulsions. 50/50 blends of coal of 4% ash and kaolin clay of 86.5% ash were used in the experiments. A variety of oils, water concentrations, solids concentrations, and emulsifiers have been used in this work. Externally applied electrostatic fields up to 1.2 kV/cm were used. Greater than 90% rejection of kaolin particles into the separated water phase was achieved with virtually complete recovery of the coal particles uniformly suspended in the oil phase.

Abstract: Used oils, especially used lube oils, after rough filtering are mixed with an aqueous solution of water glass and an aqueous solution of polyalkylene glycol while stirring at elevated temperature, the obtained mixture is allowed to settle, the settlings are separated, and water and light ends are removed from the oil phase by distillation. The thus obtained dry oil phase may be subjected to adsorptive filtering either direct or through a per se known treatment with dispersed sodium and may finally be fractionated by distillation.

Abstract: An automatic drainage system is described for draining one of two non-miscible liquids which are of different densities from at least one tank (1) via a drain valve (3,10,60) including a system for monitoring the relative proportions of the non-miscible liquids in the liquid flow along the drain line (2). According to the invention the monitoring system includes a recirculating path (2A, 26 FIGS. 1 to 5: 2A FIG. 6) for liquid from the drain line (2) back to the tank (1), a pump (5) in the recirculating path for moving liquid around the path, the pump being arranged to maintain a substantially constant liquid flow around the path substantially independently of the head of liquid in the tank, a detector (7) in the path having at least one sensing head (8) for sensing the relative proportions of the two non-misible liquids flowing in said path, and control means (9) for controlling the system in dependence upon said relative proportions.

Abstract: Water is separated from an MEK toluene dewaxing solvent by pervaporation through a poly(vinyl pyridine) membrane which has been cross-linked with 1,4-dibromobutane mounted on a polyacrylonitrile support layer.

Abstract: A process is described for removing mineral or ash constituents from heavy hydrocarbon residues, such as those resulting from coal-oil coprocessing, residue hydrocracking or coal liquifaction. The process comprises the steps of: (a) intimately mixing the ash-containing heavy hydrocarbon oil residue with a surfactant and a pH-conditioned aqueous solution under high shear mixing conditions to disperse the ash-containing residue in the aqueous phase thereby creating a fine oil-in-water emulsion, (b) adding a strong oxidizing agent to the emulsion to thereby break the emulsion and release the ash into the aqueous phase and (c) separating the ash-containing aqueous phase from the oil phase. The HLB method for characterizing the emulsion forming activity of a surface active material is described in M. J. Rosen, Surfactants and Interfacial Phenomena, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1989), incorporated herein by reference.

Abstract: A method and system for handling polluted liquids with a mobile sewage vehicle, especially stratified oil products in a petrol or oil tank wherein the contents of the tank normally separates into horizontal layers of useless polluted liquid and fully useable liquid, respectively. The fractions of the polluted and useable liquid are respectively drawn into a sludge tank and an extra tank so that the extra tank receives an immediately reuseable product which may be returned to the petrol or oil tank. The selective filling of the sludge tank and extra tank is obtained by providing an arrangement for enabling an inspection of the suctioned liquid as the suctioned liquid enters the sludge tank and a valve device for facilitating the necessary switching operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a facile method of oil removal from an oil-water emulsion containing suspended solid particulates. In general, the method utilizes a volatile solvent which is liquefied under pressure and forms a two-phase system when in contact with the emulsion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing residual water from heavy crude oil comprising a casing, an inlet for admitting liquid crude oil into the casing so as to establish a liquid surface in the casing, an outlet passage for discharging dehydrated liquid crude oil from the casing, a heater in the casing for maintaining the liquid oil at a distillation temperature for evaporating water and light hydrocarbons, a vapor outlet for discharging a mixture of water vapor and light hydrocarbons evaporated from the crude oil, a spray device above the surface of the liquid in the casing for spraying incoming crude oil onto and in heat exchange contact with the surface of the heated oil in the casing, whereby water and light hydrocarbon vapors are distilled from incoming crude oil upon contact with the surface of the heated liquid crude oil.