MagneCoal Separator
Magnetostatic Coalescence for Breaking Emulsions
EXPORTech has developed a novel patented continuous magnetic method (US 5,868,939) for breaking emulsions. It is capable of separating micron size internal phase droplets in high throughput operation, does not plug even when processing high internal phase emulsions which are strongly magnetic, and achieves high levels of recovery of the continuous phase of the emulsion. The magnetostatic coalescence method employs additives to impart magnetic characteristics to selected liquids such as the internal phase of an emulsion and surfactants to control interfacial tension and film stability in a magnetic field. Magnetic fields are applied to coalesce the emulsion under practical conditions using a continuously operating – high gradient magnetic coalescer, CO-HGMC.
The magnetostatic coalescence method has the potential for many novel applications. It may be used to replace or augment electrostatic coalescence now used in petroleum refining, in the recovery of the oil phase of OL/W emulsions produced in enhanced recovery operations in oil fields, processing high water and salt content crudes, and may be developed as a new approach to emulsion contactors for use in caustic washing to desulfurize and remove organic acids from gasoline feedstocks; alkylation in petroleum refining; removal of impurities from the products of chemical reactions; and selective protein recovery from fermenter broth in bioprocessing applications. While heat is not developed in the emulsion during breaking, the method can be operated over any temperature range in which the emulsion is stable.
The method is applicable to breaking emulsions of high solids content and may handle thermally unstable and complex organic materials which now pose problems for solvent extraction in the biotechnology area. The magnetostatic coalescence method may also allow the use of more stable emulsions in liquid membrane technology.
Contact Dr. Robin R. Oder at roder@magneticseparation.com for more information.