The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 25, 1980
Filed:
Aug. 01, 1977
Marvin H Weintraub, Oak Park, MI (US);
Matthew A Dzieciuch, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Roy L Gealer, Southfield, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for breaking an oil-in-water emulsion. Briefly, the method of this invention includes the following general steps. A porous ferrous ion producing anode is established. A supply of the oil-in-water emulsion is located on one side of the anode and a fixed volume of the emulsion is flowed through a fixed cross sectional area of the anode per unit of time. Less than a passivating current is flowed through each unit area of the anode per unit of time thereby dissolving into the emulsion ferrous ion in sufficient quantity to break the emulsion. The flowing of the fixed volume of the emulsion through the electrode per unit of time and the dissolving of sufficient quantity of ferrous ions results in a homogeneous dispersion of the ferrous ions in the fixed volume of the emulsion. There is an in situ generation of hydroxyl ion at the cathode and tiny air bubbles are introduced near the electrodes to oxidize the ferrous ions to ferric ions. The ferric ions are then permitted time to break the emulsion and remove the oil therefrom. This oil floats to the top surface in a froth and is removed.