Enhanced coalescence of emulsion in an electric field

Journal Article · · Separation Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01496399108050535· OSTI ID:5650887

Abubakar, A I; Bello, J O ^[1]

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1. Ahmadu Bello Univ., Zaria (Nigeria)

The separation of emulsions is a fluid processing step which causes major difficulties in several industries; e.g., hydrometallurgy, crude oil operations where routine processing involves stable emulsions with water, and solvent extraction operations. Electric fields offers a simple separation method. The action of an electric field on an emulsion produced effects like drop disintegration and promoted coalescence. High and low field intensities modify droplet displacements due to electrostatic forces. In this investigation a water-in-oil type of emulsion was prepared using distilled water and soap as the surfactant. After mixing, these emulsions were separated under an applied direct current high voltage electric field at a fixed 2.09 kV applied output voltage across the system. The time of coalescence, upper plate position, mixing time, and dispersion/coalescence parameter and dispersion band hold-up. The results show that the prepared emulsion can be separated back into its bulk phases by using electric fields. The degree of separation depends on the applied voltage.

• OSTI ID: 5650887
• Journal Information: Separation Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Separation Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 26:10-11; ISSN SSTED; ISSN 0149-6395
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020800* -- Petroleum-- Waste Management
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320305 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Industrial Waste Management
COALESCENCE
COLLOIDS
DATA
DISPERSIONS
DROPLETS
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION
ELECTROSTATICS
EMULSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS OILS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
INFORMATION
KEROSENE
LIQUID FUELS
METAL INDUSTRY
NUMERICAL DATA
OPTIMIZATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACTANTS
TIME DEPENDENCE
WATER