Electrostatic Separators May Supplant Mixer-Settlers

Separating oil from water may seem simple enough, but in fact, tremendous efforts have gone into this common process problem. The petroleum industry is constantly looking for better ways to separate the emulsion of oil and connate water that is pumped from the ground and its latest development, the electrostatic emulsion separator, may find an important offshoot application in hydrometallurgy. The patent-pending OSX coalescer, developed by C-E Natco, recovers entrained solvent from both raffinate and the pregnant strip liquor. It has already undergone successful testing at the Bluebird copper circuit in Arizona and is currently being prepared for testing at a uranium SX plant.