METHOD FOR TREATING DISPERSIONS OF OLEOPHILIC LIQUIDS AND WATER

摘要

Dispersions of oil and similar liquids in water are clarified with separation of the oil and water phases by mixing the dispersion with a polymer dissolved in an oil miscible solvent in a manner such that contact between the polymer solution and dispersed oil droplets is achieved. The polymer must be soluble in the oil and must have a molecular weight sufficiently high to impart viscoelasticity to the resulting solution of polymer in solvent and oil. Thereafter, the oil and water phases are readily separated by settling and decantation, or by enhanced phase separation techniques such as centrifugation.