MIXED HYDROPHILIC/HYDROPHOBIC FIBER MEDIA FOR LIQUID-LIQUID COALESCENCE

• US 20140116947A1
• Filed: 01/06/2014
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Akron
• Original Assignee: University of Akron
• Inventors: Chase, George, Kulkarni, Prashant
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/665
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0202 by ab- or adsorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/045 with coalescers
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/10 with stationary filtering elements
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/04 Organic material, e.g. cellulose, cotton
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 39/06 Inorganic material, e.g. asbestos fibres, glass beads or fibres

Abstract

An immiscible lipophilic or hydrophilic liquid phase separated respectively from a continuous hydrophilic phase or a lipophilic phase liquid. Fibers having hydrophilic and hydrophobic properties are formed into a filter. The separation mechanism involves capture of small droplets of the immiscible phase, coalescence of the small droplets into larger droplets as the immiscible liquid flows through the fiber filter, and release of the large immiscible droplets from the filter. Regarding separation of a hydrophilic immiscible fluid such as water in a lipophilic continuous fluid such as oil, the hydrophobic fibers cause small water droplets to migrate towards the hydrophilic fibers whereby large droplets form on hydrophilic surface. The large droplets stay on hydrophilic fiber surface for extended periods of time and continue to coalescence until they are so large that they can no longer be maintained by the hydrophilic fibers and are released and drained off of the filter.

Claims

1. A process for removing an immiscible lipophilic or a hydrophilic liquid respectively from a continuous hydrophilic or a lipophilic liquid phase, comprising the steps of:

forming a filter containing hydrophobic fibers and hydrophilic fibers;

flowing said immiscible lipophilic liquid or hydrophilic liquid respectively in said continuous liquid phase hydrophilic liquid or lipophilic liquid through said filter and

capturing said immiscible liquid;

coalescing said captured immiscible liquid; and

removing said coalesced immiscible liquid from said filter.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of said hydrophobic fibers to said hydrophilic fibers is from about 90% to about 10% by weight with the remaining weight percent being said hydrophilic fibers, and wherein said filter has a wettability L/H ratio of from about 1 to about 3,000.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein said L/H ratio is from about 2 to about 200, and wherein the fiber diameters of said hydrophobic fibers and said hydrophilic fibers, independently, is from about 0.1 to about 500 microns.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein said fiber diameter of said hydrophobic fibers and said hydrophilic fibers, independently, is from about 0.5 to about 50 microns.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein the weight ratio of said hydrophobic fibers to said hydrophilic fibers ranges from about 70% to about 30% by weight with the remaining weight percent being said hydrophilic fibers, wherein said fiber diameter of said hydrophobic and said hydrophilic fibers, independently, is from about 1 to about 10 microns, and wherein said L/H ratio is from about 2 to about 150.

6. The process of claim 1, wherein said hydrophobic fibers include comprise one or more polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene, nomex, polyester, a halogen-containing polymer, rubber, polyurethane, polycarbonate, or a silicone polymer;

one or more minerals such as zinc oxide; and

fibers that contain silane coatings thereon; and

wherein said hydrophilic fibers comprise one or more glasses including sodium glass, boron glass, phosphate glass, or B-glass;

one or more minerals including alumina, titania, or silica;

one or more metals including aluminum or aluminum alloys; and

one or more polymers including cellulose acetate, poly(methylmethacrylate), polyethylene oxide, or nylon.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein said hydrophobic fibers include polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyester, and halogen-containing fibers, and wherein said hydrophilic fibers comprise glass fibers.