PROCESS FOR SIMULTANEOUS EXTRACTION OF DISPERSED AND DISSOLVED HYDROCARBON CONTAMINANTS FROM WATER

摘要

The invention is a new process for simultaneous extraction of dispersed and dissolved hydrocarbon contaminants from water. The process is based on the principle of injecting natural hydrocarbon gas to the water feed stream under pressure and temperature conditions which permits the gas to act as a solvent for dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbon contaminants. The dispersed particles "swell" and have a reduced density which markedly improve the efficiency of the downstream separation by liquid-liquid-hydrocyclones.