Ice-Filter Equipment for Oil Separation from Natural Materials

Abstract

A new method is proposed to separate oil from natural materials. The method separates the natural materials, into a liquid that passes through an ice-filter layer and a highly-viscous solution and/or solids that are captured in the ice-filter layer. Fundamental tests of the method with squid viscera (oil emulsion) yielded a separation (oil capture) efficiency of as high as 87%. The practical equipment comprises a filter crystal process, a separating process and a melting process.