Oil emulsion processing

A method for recovering oily material from a wool scouring emulsion without acidification comprising the steps of

• forming a mixture of the wool scouring emulsion with liquid amine having the formula:
• ##STR3## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen or alkyl, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or alkenyl of 2 to 6 carbon atoms, the total number of carbon atoms in the molecule being in the range of 3 to 7 inclusive, in which the oily component of the emulsion is soluble and which has an inverse critical solution point with water, at a temperature below the phase separation temperature of the amine and water so as to form a single, liquid phase of amine, oil and water, the amount of amine being sufficient that substantially complete miscibility with the emulsion occurs below said inverse critical solution temperature,
• filtering the single phase liquid mixture to remove any solid matter therefrom,
• adjusting the temperature of the mixture to above the inverse critical solution temperature whereby amine phase containing substantially all of the oily material of the emulsion and a water phase containing substantially no oily material are formed,
• separating the amine phase containing the oily material from the water phase, and recovering the oily material from the amine.

A method for removing wool grease from wool scouring emulsion comprising the steps of:

• forming a mixture comprising wool scouring emulsion, a filtering aid, a small quantity of lime and triethylamine in a quantity of about one to seven parts by weight to one part of the emulsion, maintaining the temperature of the mixture below about 66.degree. F. whereby it forms a single liquid phase of amine, wool grease and water, filtering the mixture to remove solid matter therefrom,
• adjusting the temperature of the single phase liquid mixture to above about 66.degree. F. whereby a triethylamine phase containing substantially all wool grease and a water phase containing substantially no wool grease are formed,
• separating the triethylamine phase and the water phase, and
• recovering the wool grease from the amine.