Separation of oil-in-water emulsions by flow through fiber beds: A response surface approach

Abstract

Separation of oil-in-water emulsions using fiber bed coalescer was studied by response surface methodology. The bed was formed of polyethylene terephthalate fibers. The aim was to investigate the possibility of using response surface regression for the analysis and prediction of both the effluent oil concentration and critical velocity in broad ranges of flow rates, bed permeabilities, and nature of dispersed oil phase. The developed response surface equations for a constant bed permeability are a responsive statistical method with the calculated multiple R higher than 90%. It was found that dispersed oil density, viscosity, neutralization number, and bed permeability influence significantly the oil removal efficiency of fiber bed coalescers. The region of highest critical velocity has been observed for a high viscosity and a high fiber bed permeability. The developed response surface models can be used to ensure high separation efficiency and improve coalescer performance when unexpected simultaneous changes in the bed permeability, hydrodynamic forces and dispersed oil properties take place.