GB628464A - Method and apparatus for separating immiscible fluids - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0628464/III/1> <PICT:0628464/III/2> A method of separating two immiscible fluids, one at least a liquid, comprises the steps of bringing the mixture of fluids into contact with a porous wall-member formed with capillary passages and pervious to one fluid, and producing a pressure differential across the wall member which is correlated to the maximum size of the capillary passages so that an optimum or substantially optimum rate of flow of said fluid takes place through the wall-member without flow of the second fluid. As shown in Fig. 1, a vessel 11 is provided with an inlet 15 for a mixture of water and gasoline, and with two members 18, 19 of porous material, the member 18 being hydrophilic and preferably water-wetted, and the member 19 being hydrophobic by being treated, for example, with silicones or a composition of organo-silicon halide, as described in U.S.A. Specification 2,306,222. The cover 12 of the vessel has a conduit 16 with a valve 17 for venting air. The mixture of water and gasoline is supplied under pressure through the inlet 15, and water and gasoline, respectively, are discharged through outlets 22, 23. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, a vessel 31 is provided with a porous hydrophilic member 36, preferably water-wetted, and a porous hydrophobic member 42, preferably oil-wetted. Air with water entrained therein is supplied under pressure through an inlet 33. The separated water is discharged through a U-tube 38 and the air is discharged through an outlet 35. A porous screen 40 and cloth cover 41 may be provided to entrap any oil which may be carried by the water.