GEL-BASED SEPARATION OF AN O-TOLUIDINE - WATER EMULSION

The present work describes an attractive and economically viable novel separation technique using superabsorbing hydrophilic polymer gel for dewatering an industrial o-toluidine-water emulsion. It is demonstrat ed that the initial water content of 30% in the emulsion is reduced to 3% within 10 min by using a semicontinuous separation strategy, which can have significant energy savings over the conventional distillatio n process. The mechanism of water removal and the effect of the presen ce of interfacial agents on the rate of water removal are also studied .