Demulsification of Water-in-Oil Emulsion by an Electrostatic Coalescence Method

Abstract

Various factors affecting the demulsification rate of emulsion were examined by means of an electrostatic coalescence method using emulsion which consisted of an organic phase containing tri-n-octhylamine (TNOA) and Span 80 or ECA 4360J and an internal aqueous phase containing Na2CO3. Increases in applied voltage, Na2CO3 concentration, and WI/O ratio result in an increase in demulsification rate, while increases in surfactant (including Span 80 and ECA 4360J) concentration, agitation speed of homogenizer and homogenizing time cause a decrease in demulsification rate. Changes in TNOA concentration do not have a significant effect. The regeneration of emulsion was examined using organic solution recovered from a Mo(VI) extraction circuit. It was found that the regeneration of emulsion containing Span 80, is generally difficult, while that containing ECA 4360J is relatively easy.