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:
May. 31, 1988
Filed:
Jan. 06, 1986
Robert J Fiocco, Summit, NJ (US);
Exxon Research and Engineering Company, Florham Park, NJ (US);
Abstract
The present invention is predicated on the discovery that emulsion prone zones generally occur in extractors at the end or region where feed is introduced and spent solvent is withdrawn. The build-up of feed droplets in this zone occurs because of slow coalescence rate, higher liquid loadings, lower interfacial tension, smaller density difference, and the like, in this zone. Accordingly, the present invention, in its simplest sense comprises a vertical extractor column having a settling zone located at one end of a mixing zone and having coalescence media located in the settling zone. Importantly, the coalescence media is positioned so as to promote the drainage of coalesced droplets to the side of the extractor where they drain back into the mixing zone. Preferably weir means are located in the settling zone between the coalescence media and the mixing zone for collecting coalesced droplets. A valve and conduit are provided for optional removal or cycling of at least some of coalesced droplets to a region in the mixing zone other than the emulsion prone zone therein.