Acoustic separation of liquid hydrocarbons from wastewater

A process for separating liquid hydrocarbons from a wastewater using acoustic energy below cavitation is disclosed. The wastewater containing the residual hydrocarbons is introduced into a vessel which has at least two groups of acoustic transducers attached to it. Acoustic energy is applied to the...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors TSAO; YUH-HWANG, HUANG; PIN Y
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 06.08.1996
Edition6
Subjects
CHEMISTRY
METALLURGY
TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE
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Summary:A process for separating liquid hydrocarbons from a wastewater using acoustic energy below cavitation is disclosed. The wastewater containing the residual hydrocarbons is introduced into a vessel which has at least two groups of acoustic transducers attached to it. Acoustic energy is applied to the fluid at an intensity below cavitation level and sufficient to induce at least one standing wave in the fluid. The liquid hydrocarbons are allowed to coalesce within the vessel to a coalesced droplet size of about 20 microns. These coalesced hydrocarbons are then separated from the wastewater.
Bibliography:Application Number: US19940249823