METHOD OF SEPARATING AN IMMISCIBLE LIQUID/LIQUID MIXTURE ANDAPPARATUS THEREFOR

摘要

A method of removing water from an organic liquid in which the water is substantially immiscible is provided. The mixture of water and an organic liquid is directed through a coalescing element which includes a packing material having a critical wetting surface tension intermediate the surface tensions of the water and the organic liquid, to form a mixture of water droplets and the organic liquid. The mixture of water droplets and organic liquid is conducted to a separating element that permits passage of the organic liquid but substantially resists or prevents passage of the water droplets, thereby separating the water droplets from the organic liquid. The separating element for separating a first liquid from a second liquid in which the first liquid is wholly or partly immiscible and forms a discontinuous phase with the second, continuous phase liquid, preferably comprises a calendared, porous, fibrous structure including polytetrafluoroethylene fibres having diameters up to about 70 .mu.m and a fluorocarbon binder.