Abstract: Disclosed is a system for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment comprising a Group IVB metal. The system comprises an aqueous reducing agent comprising a metal cation and a latent source of sulfate which, upon reaction with a contaminant in the pretreatment bath, forms a metal sulfate. The contaminant comprises a nitrite source. The metal sulfate salt has a pKsp of 4.5 to 11 at a temperature of 25° C. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining a pretreatment bath containing a pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal. The method comprises supplying the reducing agent to the pretreatment bath in an amount sufficient to reduce a pollution ratio of the pretreatment bath to less than 1:1. Also disclosed are substrates with a pretreatment bath maintained according to the system and method.

Abstract: A dynamic demulsification system to facilitate the removal of water from oil for use in a gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) which has a dehydrator vessel in fluid communication with a desalter vessel which in turn is in fluid communication with a water/oil separator vessel includes the following system components: an in-line microwave treatment subsystem upstream of one or two of each of the dehydrator vessel, the desalter vessel and the water/oil separator vessel, each of which vessels receives a water-oil emulsion; a sensor for the real-time monitoring and transmission of data representing one or more properties of the water-oil emulsion in the respective vessel(s) and/or downstream of the respective vessel(s) with which the sensor is associated; and a processor/controller that receives the data from the sensor and transmits one or more signals to the one or both of the respective in-line microwave treatment subsystem(s) to generate and apply microwave energy of predetermined characteristics to the flowing

Abstract: A dynamic water/oil demulsification system for a gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) includes: an in-line microwave treatment subsystem upstream of one or more of each of a dehydrator vessel, desalter vessel and/or water/oil separator vessel, each of which vessels receives a water-oil emulsion; sensors that monitor and transmit data corresponding to properties of the water-oil emulsion in or downstream of the respective vessel(s); and a processor/controller associated with the in-line microwave treatment subsystem that initiates the application of microwave energy to the emulsion(s) based on the data from the sensors.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of water/oil (W/O) emulsions is described which includes the addition of an ionic liquid, under heating, to a water/oil emulsion containing between 0.5% and 85% of water per volume as a dispersion phase, until the concentration of the ionic liquid in the emulsion remains within the range of 0.01 ?L/g to 100 ?L/g. The ionic liquid used is a salt of a general C+ A? formula in a liquid state at temperatures below 150° C., where A? is an anion and C+ is a cation, which has at least a hydrophobic alkyl chain connected to a cation group. The heating method includes conventional heating and heating via microwaves. In the heating via microwaves, the salts of the general C+ A? formula present synergic behavior in separation efficiency in relation to conventional heating.

Abstract: A oil and water emulsion breaking system having a reactor including an inner vessel connected to an inlet and an outlet of the reactor and allowing microwaves to pass therethrough, a packed bed of activated carbon retained within and across the inner vessel along at least part of a length thereof and configured for circulation of the emulsion therethrough, and a microwave applicator configured to direct microwaves to the packed bed through the inner vessel.

Abstract: A method for extracting oil from a compressible solid material including oil droplets contained within respective droplet tissues includes injecting liquid water into the compressible solid material; mixing the liquid water into the compressible solid material; if the liquid water is not in a sub-critical condition, bringing the liquid water to the sub-critical condition; and vaporizing the liquid water for releasing energy into the compressible solid material. The released energy ruptures the tissues around at least one of the respective oil droplets for releasing the oil droplets from containment within the respective droplet tissues. The released, oil droplets are extractable by compressing the compressible solid material.

Abstract: Method of producing a nanoparticle suspension with the steps (i) preparation of an emulsion of a disperse polar phase, where the aqueous phase comprises one or more precursor substances forming the nanoparticles, in a continuous organic phase in the presence of an emulsifier stabilizing the emulsion, (ii) conversion of the one or more precursor substances to nanoparticles in the disperse aqueous phase, (iii) breaking of the emulsion and phase separation, where the nanoparticle suspension is obtained as one phase, (iv) separation off of the nanoparticle suspension, (v) optionally isolation of the nanoparticles from the nanoparticle suspension, wherein the emulsifier is selected from compounds of the general formula (I) in which X is O, NH, Y is C(O), NH, R is a saturated or a mono- or polyunsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having 6 to 30 carbon atoms and R1 is hydrogen or C1-C4-alkyl, and R2 is a saturated or a mono- or polyunsaturated, linear or branched hydrocarbon radical having 1 to 30 car

Abstract: A method of demulsifying an emulsion is provided, the method comprising an initial step of supplying the emulsion to a fluid processor passage (14) having an inlet (16) and an outlet (18), wherein the cross sectional area of the passage (14) between the inlet (16) and outlet (18) does not reduce below the cross sectional area at the inlet (16). A transport fluid is supplied from a transport fluid source (60) to a transport fluid nozzle (34) which circumscribes the passage (14) and opens into the passage (14) intermediate the inlet (16) and the outlet (18). The transport fluid is accelerated through a throat (38) of the transport fluid nozzle (34), the throat (34) having a cross sectional area which is less than that of either the nozzle inlet (36) or nozzle outlet (40).

Abstract: A method for breaking an emulsion of an ionic liquid which is a salt that is in the liquid state at a temperature below 1500 C, and an oil, comprising the steps of (a) irradiating the emulsion with microwave radiation; (b) separating the emulsion into an ionic liquid phase and an oil phase; and (c) recovering at least one of the phases.

Abstract: Method for the microwave emulsion treatment of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, including a) determining, for an W/O emulsion the optimum conditions of the variables: water content, salt content, pH value of the aqueous phase, initial temperature, microwave application power, final temperature and drop size distribution to be adjusted in the industrial plant, as a function of the features of the tested crude oil such as viscosity, density, asphaltene content, total acidity, such conditions being those required for obtaining at least 90% separation efficiency of the emulsion in the presence of microwave radiation: b) utilizing such information for the initial adjustment of application conditions of the method to phase separation units in refineries and production units; c) perform on line tests of the variables of step a) of the process response in the streams effluent from separation units, being the response the water content and salt content tests, so as to feedback the information to the best adjustment of th

Abstract: Method for the microwave emulsion treatment of water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, including a) determining, for an W/O emulsion the optimum conditions of the variables: water content, salt content, pH value of the aqueous phase, initial temperature, microwave application power, final temperature and drop size distribution to be adjusted in the industrial plant, as a function of the features of the tested crude oil such as viscosity, density, asphaltene content, total acidity, such conditions being those required for obtaining at least 90% separation efficiency of the emulsion in the presence of microwave radiation: b) utilizing such information for the initial adjustment of application conditions of the method to phase separation units in refineries and production units; c) perform on line tests of the variables of step a) of the process response in the streams effluent from separation units, being the response the water content and salt content tests, so as to feedback the information to the best adjustment of th

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 for treating a micro-emulsion that can be used for removing the ink-accepting areas of a lithographic printing master is disclosed, which enables to recycle the water from the used micro-emulsion. The method comprises the heating of the micro-emulsion to a temperature above 50° C. thereby obtaining an aqueous phase and an organic phase and separating the aqueous phase from the organic phase.

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: Process for separating an emulsion of a bituminous oil and water into a liquid water phase and a liquid bituminous oil phase, wherein the following steps are performed: (a) raising the temperature of the bituminous oil/water emulsion having a temperature of below 100 ° C. to a temperature of above 140 ° C., and (b) performing a phase separation wherein a water phase and oil phase is obtained, wherein the heating of the emulsion in step (a) is effected by first mixing part of oil phase obtained in step (b) having a temperature of above 140 ° C. with the bituminous oil/water emulsion and subsequently raising the temperature of the resulting mixture to a temperature of above 140 ° C. by making use of indirect heat exchange means.

Abstract: A method of demulsifying a water-in-oil emulsion comprising an oil phase comprising asphaltenes and an aqueous phase is disclosed. The method comprises contacting a carbon dioxide containing fluid with the emulsion such that the carbon dioxide containing fluid enters the oil phase of the emulsion. The asphaltenes precipitate out of the emulsion and the emulsion destabilizes.

Abstract: A method for the work-up of a nonionic surfactant-containing microemulsion reaction mixture formed in the o-alkylation of phenols by an alkyl halide in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Said mixture has one reaction product present as an aqueous phase and a further reaction product present as a water immiscible phase and which the reaction mixture is obtained in microemulsion form. Said reaction mixture is worked up by:a) subjecting this microemulsion to a temperature decreased by 20 to 50K thereby forming an aqueous phase having a high surfactant content and a substantially surfactant-free organic phase,b) separating off the substantially surfactant-free organic phase formed and replacing said surfactant-free organic phase with an organic solution of the alkyl halide.