FILTERING AND SHUT-OFF VALVE

摘要

A method and apparatus for removal of organic liquids including liquid hydrocarbons from an aqueous stream passing through a conduit comprises interposing in the conduit a housing (30) having a cavity of a predetermined volume through which the aqueous stream must flow, interposing in said cavity a discrete, organic liquid swellable polymer absorbent (64) having a maximum volume upon swelling greater than the predetermined volume of the cavity, whereby the polymer absorbent cannot reach 100 % saturation. This volume limitation of the cavity prevents dissolution of the polymer absorbent and permits the use of non-cross-linked polymers. The polymer preferably will swell to at least four times its volume and not be soluble in less than 20 times its volume. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the polymer absorbent is packed in the cavity in a density in the range of about 280 to about 340 grams per litre of cavity volume, the polymer absorbent functioning as a prefilter at about 300 grams per litre density and as a shut-off valve at about 320 grams per litre density.