SEPARATING OIL PHASE FROM AQUEOUS PHASE USING AN APERTURED OLEOPHILIC SIEVE IN CONTACT WITH AN APERTURED CYLINDRICAL CAGE WALL

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE INVENTIONA mixture containing viscous oil phase and an aqueousphase is separated by means of an apertured oleophilic endlessbelt supported in a separation zone by a revolving cylindricalcage having apertured sidewalls and supported in a recovery zoneby a support roller, the belt continuously moving through theseparation zone and the recovery zone. The mixture is intro-duced into the rotating cage in the separation zone. The end-less belt partly covers the outside surface of the cylindricalcage sidewall. The mixture tumbles inside the cage as itrotates and passes through the cage sidewall apertures to thebelt surface, where the aqueous phase passes through the beltapertures for removal while the oil phase is captured by thebelt on contact and conveyed by it to the recovery zone.Recovery is effected by mechanical means which may be combinedwith heating. Agglomeration solids may be included in the cage.Means may be provided to maintain belt tension and tracking onthe cylindrical surfaces.