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US 9,427,679 B2Granted
Systems and methods for unipolar separation of emulsions and other mixtures
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsSeyed Reza Mahmoudi, Kripa K. Varanasi
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Abstract
Embodiments discussed herein relate to systems and methods for separating two or more phases of an emulsion or other mixture. The methods include providing the mixture with a net and unipolar charge (e.g., such that adjacent droplets therein acquire net and unipolar charges), thereby enhancing coalescence of like-phase droplets therein and producing, or enhancing the production of, two or more consolidated phases; and collecting the two or more consolidated phases.
Claims32
A method for separating two or more phases of an emulsion mixture, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing the mixture with a net and unipolar charge, thereby enhancing coalescence of like-phase and like-charge droplets therein and producing, or enhancing the production of, two or more consolidated phases,
- wherein the charge densities of a first and a second coalescing like-phase and like-charge droplet are different such that Qa/ra>>Qb/rb, wherein Qa is the charge of droplet a, Qb is the charge of droplet b, ra is the radius of droplet a, and rb is the radius of droplet b, wherein step (a) comprises bombarding the mixture with ions via corona discharge;
- and
- (b) collecting the two or more consolidated phases.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.