Separation of hydrocarbons from water
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company Law Department
InventorsRobert J. Falkiner, Bal K. Kaul
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for the removal of entrained hydrocarbons, particularly aromatics, from water by extracting the hydrocarbons in the water with a hydrocarbon which is relatively less soluble in the water than the entrained hydrocarbon. The hydrocarbons are then separated from the water by a process of coalescence/separation. The extractant is suitably a paraffinic hydrocarbon which, while having an affinity for the entrained hydrocarbon, is relatively less soluble in water than hydrocarbons such as aromatics. The hydrocarbons removed from the water can be recirculated to the feed with the composition of the recirculating phase being controlled to achieve the desired level of hydrocarbon removal.
Claims12
A method for removing non-paraffinic hydrocarbons entrained in a stream of water, which comprises:
- mixing the water stream with a hydrocarbon extractant which has a lower water solubility than the entrained hydrocarbons,
- subjecting the mixed water/hydrocarbon stream to coalescence/separation to coalesce the hydrocarbon components of the mixture to form larger size coalesced liquid droplets,
- separating the coalesced liquid droplets comprising hydrocarbon extractant and removed hydrocarbons from the water.
A method according to claim 7 in which the volume ratio of the hydrocarbon extractant to the water stream is from 0.5 to 5 volume percent.
A method according to claim 13 in which a portion of the recycle blend is removed from the recirculation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.