Abstract: A method of demulsifying an emulsion of oil and water whereby palm oil fuel ash, which is a low cost waster product obtained from oil palm processing, is added to the emulsion and the resulting mixture is agitated, thereby breaking the emulsion into an aqueous phase and an oil phase. Solid particles of palm oil fuel ash settle to the bottom of the aqueous phase, allowing easy separation of the oil phase, the aqueous phase, and the settled solid particles of palm oil fuel ash.

Abstract: A copper/molybdenum separation system uses sea water in the roughing circuit and desalinated water in cleaning circuit. In both roughing circuit and cleaning circuit, hydrophobic engineered media are used to recover the mineral particles of interest. The cleaning circuit includes a molybdenum loading stage configured to contact the conditioned pulp with the engineered media in an agitated reaction chamber, and load the hydrophobic molybdenite on the engineered media.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing suspended impurities from a liquid (e.g., wastewater), methods of use, and systems including such apparatus. In an embodiment, an apparatus may include a vessel defining a chamber for receiving gas induced liquid influent through an inlet, the influent including suspended impurities. A riser tube may be provided within the vessel, in fluid communication with the inlet so that liquid influent introduced into the vessel through the inlet is introduced into the riser tube. One or more coalescing members may be disposed within the riser tube. The coalescing members may be sufficiently small to be easily removable by hand, without requiring a crane. The coalescing members may be freely disposed within the riser tube, rotatable within the flow of the liquid influent, aiding the coalescing members in exhibiting some degree of “self-cleaning”, so as to be less prone to fouling and clogging.

Abstract: A method for treating an oil-containing aqueous mixture comprising the step of passing the mixture (1) through a media (6) comprising a bead-form cation exchange resin combined with a cationic surfactant, wherein the resin includes a sulfonated crosslinked copolymer matrix having a rough surface characterized by having a frequency of at least 5 peaks and valleys per sample surface area (283 um×212 um), where the difference between the average height of the 5 highest peaks and the 5 lowest valleys is at least 6 ?m.

Abstract: A pressure management system for sensors is provided. The system includes a sampling assembly. The sampling assembly is configured to hold a first portion of a test fluid. Further, the system includes at least one sensor disposed proximate to the sampling assembly. The sensor is configured to determine at least one property of the test fluid. The system also includes a housing that is disposed around the sampling assembly. The housing defines a fluid chamber that houses a balancing fluid. Furthermore, the system includes a flexible device disposed in the fluid chamber that draws a second portion of the test fluid. The flexible device is configured to balance pressure exerted by the test fluid on the sampling assembly by exerting pressure on the balancing fluid with the second portion of the test fluid.

Abstract: The use of a nondendrimeric hyperbranched polyester and/or a polyesteramide which comprise alkenyl-substituted succinic acid units as a demulsifier for splitting oil-water emulsions. The succinic acid is substituted by at least one alkenyl group containing from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. Particular emulsions suitable for splitting are crude oil emulsions. Also, a nondendrimeric hyperbranched polyester or a polyesteramide which comprises alkenyl-substituted succinic acid units, the alkenyl group having from 16 to 20 carbon atoms. In addition to the alkenyl-substituted succinic acid units, the nondendrimeric hyperbranched polyester contains, as further units, at least trifunctional alcohols having been alkoxylated with an average of from 3 to 12 ethylene oxide units.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of nondendrimeric, high-functionality hyperbranched polyesters and polycarbonates which are obtainable by reacting (i) at least one aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic dicarboxylic acid (A2) or derivatives thereof, or organic carbonates (A2?) with (ii) at least one x-hydric aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, araliphatic or aromatic alcohol (Cx) which has more than two OH groups, where x is a number greater than 2, preferably from 3 to 8, more preferably from 3 to 6, even more preferably from 3 to 4 and especially 3, and (iii) at least one fatty acid amide alkoxylate (D) of saturated or unsaturated C2-C30 fatty acid amides with an average of from 1 to 40 alkylene oxide units as demulsifiers for splitting crude oil emulsions.

Abstract: Surface-treated carboxyalkylated polysaccharides comprising a biobased content of at least 82% are described herein. The surface-treated carboxyalkylated polysaccharides comprise a CRC of at least 18 g/g, a FSC of at least 26 g/g, and an AUL at 0.7 psi of at least 14 g/g. Processes for the manufacture of surface-treated carboxyalkylated polysaccharides are also described herein.

Abstract: A method and system for recovering fluid (e.g. liquid) hydrocarbons from both naturally-occurring and man-made mixtures of hydrocarbons and mineral substrates by the exploiting of buoyant beads.

Abstract: A hydrogel having a floatability where from 40% to 90% of a solution and/or suspension to be thickened are thickened starting from the surface of the liquid and the rest of the solution and/or suspension to be thickened is thickened starting from the bottom of the container, a process for preparing the hydrogel and also its use for absorbing blood and/or body fluids, especially in hygiene articles, or for thickening aqueous solutions and/or suspensions, especially for thickening medical wastes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for the separation of oil and water, in particular through the action of a polymeric material on oil/water emulsions (including oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions).

Abstract: A filter aid and a method of using the same are disclosed that effectively removes contaminants from water-based metal forming liquids used in aluminum forming, rolling and other metal working processes. The filter aid includes a cellulosic material and a cationic polymer flocculating agent that is mixed with contaminated metal working fluid for a predetermined amount of time. The contaminated metal working fluid is then filtered through the filter aid, thereby removing the substantially all of the contaminants therein and allowing purified metal working fluid to return to the process system without carrying contaminants that will harm the surfaces of the metal being worked and the device that forms them. An acid material may be optionally added to the metal forming liquid, the acid serving to maintain the pressure and flow rate at normal levels by controlling clogging in the filter.

Abstract: A filter aid and a method of using the same are disclosed that effectively removes contaminants from water-based metal forming liquids used in aluminum forming, rolling and other metal working processes. The filter aid includes a cellulosic material and a cationic polymer flocculating agent that is mixed with contaminated metal working fluid for a predetermined amount of time. The contaminated metal working fluid is then filtered through the filter aid, thereby removing the substantially all of the contaminants therein and allowing purified metal working fluid to return to the process system without carrying contaminants that will harm the surfaces of the metal being worked and the device that forms them. An acid material may be optionally added to the metal forming liquid, the acid serving to maintain the pressure and flow rate at normal levels by controlling clogging in the filter.

Abstract: An aerogel material with surfaces containing fluorine atoms which exhibits exceptional hydrophobicity, or the ability to repel liquid water. Hydrophobic aerogels are efficient absorbers of solvents from water. Solvents miscible with water are separated from it because the solvents are more volatile than water and they enter the porous aerogel as a vapor across the liquid water/solid interface. Solvents that are immisicble with water are separated from it by selectively wetting the aerogel. The hydrophobic property is achieved by formulating the aerogel using fluorine containing molecules either directly by addition in the sol-gel process, or by treating a standard dried aerogel using the vapor of fluorine containing molecules.

Abstract: A method for removing organic liquids from aqueous solutions and mixtures. The method employs any porous material preferably in granular form and having small pores and a large specific surface area, that is hydrophobic so that liquid water does not readily wet its surface. In this method, organics, especially organic solvents that mix with and are more volatile than water, are separated from aqueous solution by preferentially evaporating across the liquid/solid boundary formed at the surfaces of the hydrophobic porous materials. Also, organic solvents that are immiscible with water, preferentially wet the surfaces of the hydrophobic material and are drawn within the porous materials by capillary action.

Abstract: An additive for controlling the detrimental effects of secondary recycled contaminants in the papermaking process. In the preferred embodiment, the additive includes a first low molecular weight, cationic water-soluble polymer and a second low molecular weight, cationic, water-soluble polymer, wherein the first low molecular weight, cationic, water-soluble polymer and the second low molecular weight, cationic, water-soluble polymer are co-reacted. In the preferred embodiment, the effective amount of the additive is determined by measuring about a 50 PPM reduction in soluble charge of the liquid base after adding the additive to the liquid base. In the most preferred embodiment, the reduction in soluble charge is between about 50 and 150 PPM as measured by determining the electrophoretic mobility of the liquid base with and without the additive.

Abstract: A method for removing organic liquids from aqueous solutions and mixtures. The method employs any porous material preferably in granular form and having small pores and a large specific surface area, that is hydrophobic so that liquid water does not readily wet its surface. In this method, organics, especially organic solvents that mix with and are more volatile than water, are separated from aqueous solution by preferentially evaporating across the liquid/solid boundary formed at the surfaces of the hydrophobic porous materials. Also, organic solvents that are immiscible with water, preferentially wet the surfaces of the hydrophobic material and are drawn within the porous materials by capillary action.

Abstract: A process for removing even tightly emulsified oil, water and solid emulsions by the application of a shear force sufficient to break the emulsion. In one particular application, a tank bottom sludge produced in the petroleum industry is treated with the shear force of a ball or roller mill until the emulsion is broken. Simultaneous reduction in the particle size of the solid occurs. This process produces commercial grade oil, water and an aqueous slurry of solids devoid of oily compounds. The oil-free solid phase produced thereby is suited for use in a coker quench stream. The demulsification process described may be used to demulsify used oil to recover and recycle the oil constituent of the used oil. The demulsification process of the present invention may be used to demulsify waste products for the later production of a liquid fuel from the oil of the waste product.

Abstract: A process of washing an emulsion such as a silver halide emulsion which contains a hydrophilic colloid comprises deionizing the emulsion and coagulating the emulsion with an anionic polymer and separating the coagulum from the supernatant and resuspending the coagulum with hydrophilic colloid, water and a base.