Cuff-layer emulsion

Interface Emulsion An emulsion occurring between oil and water phases in a process separation or treatment apparatus. Such emulsions may have a high solids content and are frequently very viscous. In this case the term interface is used in a macroscopic sense and refers to a bulk phase separated by two other bulk phases of higher and lower density. Other terms are cuff layer, pad layer, or rag layer emulsions. 

In many surface separation processes, three distinct phases or process streams will occur a product stream (either oil or water), a waste (tailings) stream and an interface emulsion stream, which may contain emulsified oil and/or water. The interface emulsion (also termed cuff layer, pad layer or rag layer emulsion) can be the most troublesome, in terms of process operation, and the most complex and intractable, in terms of treatment. Such emulsions can have high solid contents and are frequently very viscous (see also mousse emulsions in Section 9.5). 

The demulsibility of a lubricant is reported in terms of the time in which an emulsion produced from 40 ml of the sample and 40 mi water (at 130°F 180°F for lubricants with viscosities more than 450 SUS) cracks (break.s) to give two distinct layers, when left undisturbed. In case of incomplete demulsification at the end of 1 hour, a 3-ml cuff or emulsion is neglected if it is more, the volume in ml of the oil, water and emulsion are reported. 

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