John E Murph, 9040 Hansbury Ave, Newark, NJ 07112

6309553, Oct 30, 2001

Sep 28, 1999

9/406976

Jelte Lanting - Washington Township NJ
John Murph - Voorhees NJ

Biothane Corporation - Camden NJ

C02F 100
B01D 4300

210802

A phase separator, upflow reactor apparatuses and methods for separating phases are provided. The phase separator includes a first separation unit and a second separation unit, each of which has walls defining a coagulation area. One of the walls adjoins a deflector inclined to the horizontal and vertical. The separator also includes a plurality of parallel plates spaced from each other and vertically and horizontally inclined which each have a lower edge. The other wall of the separator adjoins one of the parallel plates and the deflector extends below and across the lower edges of the parallel plates. Each of the first and the second separation units is capable of separating a gas from a liquid by diverting the gas around one wall of each of the separation units and by creating a circulation of the liquid around at least one of the parallel plates such that liquid is directed into the coagulation area. The upflow reactor apparatus includes phase separators having multiple units alone or in combination with a further separator in series arrangements. The methods include providing an upflow of gas and liquid within an upflow reactor apparatus having phase separators as noted herein, providing a liquid circulation around at least one of the parallel plates of the separator by diverting gas flow to one or more gas collecting areas such that the liquid circulation provides a downwardly directed flow around the parallel plates and liquid is directed to one or more coagulation areas.