BREAKING OF OIL/WATER EMULSION

摘要

Process for separating an emulsion of a bituminous oil and water into a liqu id water phase and a liquid bituminous oil phase, wherein the following steps a re 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 obtaine d, 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.