Abstract: The present invention is a process for separating at least a first component from a second component of at least a first stream within a single vessel having at least one distillation zone and an adsorption zone. The invention may be applied to separates an alcohol from a mixture of the alcohol and water, such as separating isopropyl alcohol from a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The invention may be applied to more complex systems such as separating isopropyl alcohol and separating diisopropyl ether from the effluents of each reactor of a two-stage diisopropyl ether production process. The benefit of the invention is a high purity separation process at reduced capital equipment costs.

Abstract: Recovery of ethylene glycol from dilute aqueous solutions is accomplished by passing the solution over the surface of a porous hydrophobic membrane capable of passing water vapor but not liquid water. The pressure and temperature provide a positive driving force for the movement of water vapor through the membrane to the opposite face where it is removed by condensation or a stream of gas or liquid. Preliminary concentration of the aqueous solutions may be provided by use of reverse osmosis membrane. The method is useful in the reclamation of spent deicing fluid.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a hydration fluid used to dehydrate natural gas. The system includes a device to assure positive flow of the water and organic constituent vapor out of the regenerator, to, in turn, control back pressure associated with the regenerator during the distillation process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing water from a solution of water and glycol solution. The apparatus finds application in recycling of glycol wherein a water and glycol solution having as much as a 95% water content when introduced to the apparatus leaves the apparatus with a water content in the order of 40% to 60%. The glycol concentrator has a packing medium made from glass shards that provide a labyrinth through which air is circulated in one direction and thin streams of glycol are circulated in generally the opposite direction. It is believed that mixing of the thin streams of solution and air flow steams in the labyrinth results in a thin film evaporation process. The glycol concentrator apparatus has reduced energy requirements when compared with a distilling process.

Abstract: A regenerating system, for the removal of water and potentially harmful organic constituents from a dehydration fluid used to dehydrate natural gas. The system includes a device to assure positive flow of the water and organic constituent vapor out of the regenerator, to, in turn, control back pressure associated with the regenerator during the distillation process.

Abstract: For the regeneration of a liquid desiccant, a stripping agent is used which is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, and forms a heteroazeotrope with water, along with the following steps: (a) distillation of the water-laden liquid desiccant to form vapor and partially regenerated liquid desiccant; (b) reboil partially regenerated liquid desiccant; (c) stripping of partially regenerated liquid desiccant during (a) and (b), using vaporized stripping agent; (d) a condensing of vapor the exiting the distillation, the condensation producing two liquid phases, one mainly water and the other mainly stripping agent; (e) heating the stripping agent-rich liquid phase exiting step (d) to generate a vapor phase which is richer in water than said liquid phase and a water-depleted liquid phase; and (f) returning the vaporized liquid phase exiting step (e) to step (c).

Abstract: A method of separating a liquid mixture wherein the liquid mixture is heated; the heated liquid mixture is supplied to a pervaporation membrane module to separate a permeable component of the liquid; a portion of non-permeated liquid is circulated through a circulation pipe into a liquid mixture feeding pipe before a heater, and the remaining portion of the non-permeated liquid is extracted to the outside of the system, and wherein the temperature of the liquid in the liquid mixture feeding pipe in which the non-permeated liquid has been mixed with the liquid mixture or in the circulation pipe for the non-permeated liquid, is measured, and when the measured temperature is out of a predetermined range, new supply of the liquid mixture and/or extraction of the non-permeated liquid is stopped.

Abstract: From a mixture containing methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isobutanol water and other high-boiling and low-boiling compounds, the claimed process enables three separate streams to be obtained, one an anhydrous stream of methanol or methanol and ethanol (I), one containing most of the n-propanol present in the feed mixture (II), and one containing most of the isobutanol present in the feed mixture (III), by using three fractionating columns.

Abstract: A methanol refining column and method using an intermediate reboiler. Use of the intermediate reboiler reduces methanol production energy requirements. A side stream at or near a fusel oil takeoff point is heated in an intermediate reboiler by a low temperature heating medium (relative to a bottoms reboiler) and returned to the column at or near the fusel oil take-off tray. The take-off tray is operated at 85.degree.-110.degree. C., and 70-90 percent of the reboiler duty is supplied through the intermediate reboiler. The remaining heat load is supplied by a bottoms steam reboiler.

Abstract: Phenol plant waste water containing small amounts of phenol and sodium sulfate is successfully distilled through the addition of recovered sodium sulfate to enhance the volatility of the phenol relative to water; at least a portion of the sodium sulfate is recycled, while a significant portion of the phenol can be returned to the phenol plant for recovery.

Abstract: In a gas dehydration system utilizing glycol in which a condensate skimming reflux column mounted on a gas fuel burner and heat exchanger unit separates and skims natural gas condensate off glycol in a settling tank-type reservoir, a fluid scrubber and separator interposed in series in a heat exchanger to reflux column wet glycol return line collects and transfers gas to the fuel burner.

Abstract: A coolant recycling apparatus has a boiler and condenser for distilling a glycol and water from a used coolant. The glycol and water are recombined in a mixing tank to form a mixture having a desired ratio of water to glycol, and an inhibitor is added to the mixture to obtain a fresh coolant mixture ready for use in an engine cooling system. Contaminants in the used coolant are concentrated to form a sludge.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus to condense and rectify alcohol, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus suitable for the energy-saving condensation and rectification of high-purity alcohol from the synthesized alcohol, the used alcohol aqueous solution in food industry and the fermented alcohol.The method makes it possible to extract and recover alcohol of 99 wt % or higher with small quantity of propane solvent, using the propane in supercritical or pseudocritical conditions in the process of condensation and recovery of alcohol from aqueous solution of alcohol. Further, the method makes it possible to condense alcohol to the concentration of 95 wt % or higher by increasing the selectivity of alcohol through the cooling of the propane to liquid state.

Abstract: A method to recycle spent ethylene glycol in a continuous process for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate in at least one reactor vessel which includes:a. condensing the overhead vapor of spent ethylene glycol, water and other byproducts from the reactor vessel,b. feeding the condensed vapor to a single distillation column,c. removing only part of the water and other byproducts from ethylene glycol by distillation overhead in the column andd. feeding the resultant bottoms of the column back to the reactor vessel as recycle ethylene glycol along with virgin ethylene glycol, so that polyethylene terephthalate polymer being manufactured by the continuous process is essentially unaffected regarding polymer color and ability to be spun into high quality yarn, but with lower diethylene glycol content that polymer made from all virgin ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A vapor condensor connected to a glycol reboiler to prevent emissions of aromatic compounds from glycol dehydration from escaping into the atmosphere. Steam and vaporized hydrocarbons are directed into the vapor condenser where they are sprayed with 80 degree or below Fahrenheit water. The water spray cools the steam and vaporized hydrocarbons so that a substantial portion of the vapors are changed to a liquid phase which is collected in an accumulator located below the vapor condenser. A water jacket surrounding a central cylinder of the vapor condenser tends to keep the condensed vapors in the liquid phase. The remaining vaporized hydrocarbons which are not condensed are drawn out of the accumulator and burned in a burner connected to the glycol reboiler. The steam and vaporized hydrocarbons in the glycol reboiler have an initial temperature in range of 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a distillation method and an apparatus for the concentration and purification of water-containing liquid chemicals. The distillation is performed using constant, predetermined distillation parameters.

Abstract: Charge aqueous solution containing 85 w % ethylene glycol is concentrated by pervaporation across a sulfonated polyethylene membrane to yield retentate containing 95 w % ethylene glycol.

Abstract: A method for distillation of a multiple-component liquid/solid system, for example, used engine coolant at two different vaporizing pressures. One component, for example, water, is separated into one distillate stream at a first pressure and the other component, for example, ethylene glycol, is separated into another distillate stream at a second pressure. Each distillate stream is directed toward an individual storage tank.

Abstract: 2-Methoxyethanol cannot be completely separated from water by conventional distillation or rectification because of the minimum boiling azeotrope. 2-Methoxyethanol can be readily separated from water by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dimethylsulfoxide, sulfolane, dimethylformamide or 1,4-butanediol.

Abstract: A process for obtaining a substantially dry alcohol from a mixture comprising alcohol and water in a non-azeotropic amount by utilizing at least a portion of the alcohol in the mixture as the stripping medium.

Abstract: Isopropanol and n-propanol cannot be completely separated from water by conventional distillation or rectification because of the minimum boiling azeotrope. Isopropanol and n-propanol can be readily separated from water by using azeotropic or extractive distillation. Typical examples of effective agents are: for isopropanol by azeotropic distillation, vinyl n-butyl ether; by extractive distillation, polyethylene glycol; for n-propanol by azeotropic distillation, amyl formate; by extractive distillation, n-butyl acetate.

Abstract: A process for the separation of propylene glycol from a mixture of low-boiling fatty alcohols and propylene glycol which comprises extracting the mixture with water to produce a water-propylene glycol mixture and fractionating the water-propylene glycol mixture to produce propylene glycol that is substantially anhydrous and an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A preparation membrane for pervaporation which comprises a crosslinked reaction mixture of a polyvinyl alcohol or polyvinyl alcohol copolymer and a polystyrene sulfonic acid or polystyrene sulfonic acid copolymer. A method for separating a mixture of water and an organic compound by using the membrane is also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved method for dehydration and concentration of an aqueous solution containing an organic compound is disclosed. The solution is evaporated to produce a gaseous mixture comprising an organic compound vapor and a water vapor. The water vapor is selectively removed from the gaseous mixture by permeation through an aromatic polyimide gas separation membrane while the gaseous mixture being kept in contact with a surface on one side of the gas separation membrane at a temperature of 70.degree. C. or higher to obtain a gaseous mixture comprising the organic compound vapor and a reduced amount of a water vapor.

Abstract: A process for producing low alcoholic wine includes the following steps: evaporating alcohol-containing wine in a vacuum evaporator so that a first mixture comprising water, alcohol and flavoring substance is separated from a second mixture having a low-alcoholic content, separating water from said first mixture in a multistage flavor substance apparatus and drawing off a third mixture comprising alcohol and flavoring substance, distilling alcohol from the third mixture, adding the water from the multistage flavor substance apparatus to a mixing vessel in an amount, which together with the low-alcohol second mixture and the flavoring substances produces a quantity of low-alcoholic wine having an alcoholic content below legally determined values for low-alcoholic wine, the process allowing only outputs of low-alcoholic wine, distilled alcohol and flavoring substances and inputs of essentially only the alcohol-containing wine.

Abstract: A dilute solution of methyl ethyl ketone is concentrated by pervaporation through a fluorinated ion exchange membrane which has been exchanged with a quaternary ammonium cation.

Abstract: Practically anhydrous crude sec-butyl alcohol produced by catalytic direct hydration of n-butenes is freed by means of water from the azeotropically boiling and low-boiling by-products by continuous azeotropic distillation in a separation column, the prepurified anhydrous sec-butyl alcohol obtained is withdrawn and the high-boiling by-products are subsequently separated in a separate column.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of alcoholates from alkali metal hydroxides and aliphatic alcohol which in their molecule contain 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The alcoholates are produced in that alkali metal hydroxide is mixed with an alcohol and is reacted with said alcohol at a temperature from 80.degree. to 110.degree. C., preferably from 80.degree. to 100.degree. C., and under a pressure from 0.3 to 1.2 bars, the alcohol water mixture which evaporates during the reaction is separated into its components by at least one membrane, the alcohol vapor and the water vapor are condensed and the condensed alcohol is recycled to the reaction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for separating and concentrating an organic component having a lower boiling point than water from an aqueous solution containing the organic component which comprises the steps of (1) bringing an aqueous solution containing an organic component having a lower boiling point than water into contact with one surface of a hydrophobic porous membrane, continuously or intermittently evacuating the side of the porous membrane opposite to the aqueous solution to obtain a concentrated vapor of the organic component, and liquefying the vapor; and (2) bringing the resulting concentrated aqueous solution into contact with one surface of a hydrophobic nonporous membrane, evacuating the side of the non-porous membrane opposite to the concentrated aqueous solution to obtain a further concentrated vapor of the organic component, and liquefying the vapor.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the dehydration of a mixture of methanol and higher alcohols, containing 20 to 80% by weight of methanol, 1 to 60% by weight of at least a higher alcohol selected from those containing from 2 to 10 carbon atoms, 1 to 50% by weight of water and 0.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing the amount of water in the feed to a methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) conversion reactor is described. The output products of a dehydration reactor and an aqueous methanol feed are supplied to a primary distillation tower or separator. A dimethylether (DME)/methanol mixture is taken as overhead from the primary tower and can be sent to the MTG conversion reactor to produce hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range. Bottoms from the primary tower, containing methanol and water, are supplied to a secondary distillation tower or separator. A methanol stream is drawn as overhead from the secondary tower and is passed to an acid catalyzed dehydration reactor where an equilibrium mixture of dimethylether, methanol, and water is produced. The equilibrium mixture is passed from the dehydration reactor to the primary distillation tower. In preferred embodiments, the conversion reactor feed from the primary distillation tower may be of a gaseous or liquid phase.

Abstract: An improved process for recovering organic values from aqueous solutions containing scale-forming ions by electrodialysis and fractionation-distillation, wherein an aqueous substantially free of organics is introduced into the concentrate side of the electrodialysis membranes to substantially reduce or avoid scaling on said membranes.

Abstract: A process for converting crude aqueous methanol feedstock or the like to olefinic hydrocarbons in contact with a medium pore shape selective crystalline acid zeolite catalyst, wherein the improvement comprises contacting the aqueous methanol feedstock with a liquid propane-rich hydrocarbon extractant under liquid extraction conditions, recovering an aqueous phase containing the major amount of water introduced with the feedstock, recovering an organic extract phase comprising the hydrocarbon extractant and a portion of methanol introduced in the feedstock, and converting the extracted methanol at elevated temperature under catalytic reaction conditions to produce predominantly olefinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of regenerating an alcohol-based antifreezing liquid, and more particularly to a method of concentrating and regenerating an alcohol-based antifreezing liquid diluted through water absorption by removing water therefrom.The antifreezing liquid containing water is introduced into an evaporation vessel. The liquid is then heated to a temperature at which components other than alcohol of the liquid are unlikely to be affected in their properties while air is fed thereinto. Thus alcohol and water vapors are generated. These vapors are first cooled to a temperature at which only water is condensed. After water is removed, cooling is effected at a lower temperature. At this stage, the alcohol vapor is condensed, and thus concentrated alcohol, almost water-free, is collected.The alcohol thus collected and nonfreezing and high boiling-point components other than alcohol in the evaporation vessel are again mixed into a concentrated antifreezing liquid.

Abstract: A process for converting crude aqueous methanol feedstock to liquid hydrocarbons in contact witha medium pore shape selective crystalline acid zeolite catalyst, such as HZSM-5. In a preferred embodiment, the novel technique comprises the steps of: (a) contacting a crude methanol feedstock containing a minor amount of water with a liquid hydrocarbon extraction stream under extraction conditions favorable to selective extraction of the methanol, thereby providing an extract liquid stream rich in methanol and an aqueous raffinate stream lean in methanol; (b) charging the extracted methanol substantially free of water to said reaction zone under process conditions to convert substantially all methanol to hydrocarbons; (c) cooling reaction effluent to recover aqueous liquid byproduct stream, gas rich in C.sub.2.sup.- hydrocarbons, liquid rich in C.sub.3 -C.sub.4 and C.sub.5.sup.

Abstract: A high pressure well head separator system having a circulation heating system with energy to circulate liquid heating medium between a heating unit and the separator provided by well gas injected into the heating medium by a gas jet. Gas injected into the heating medium and control gas used to regulate flow of heating medium to the separator is recaptured and subsequently burned by a gas burner pilot associated with a gas burner used for heating the liquid heating medium in the heating unit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for reducing the amount of water in the feed to a methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) conversion reactor is described. The output products of a dehydration reactor and an aqueous methanol feed are supplied to a primary distillation tower or separator. A dimethylether (DME)/methanol mixture is taken as overhead from the primary tower and can be sent to the MTG conversion reactor to produce hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline range. Bottoms from the primary tower, containing methanol and water, are supplied to a secondary distillation tower or separator. A methanol stream is drawn as overhead from the secondary tower and is passed to an acid catalyzed dehydration reactor where an equilibrium mixture of dimethylether, methanol, and water is produced. The equilibrium mixture is passed from the dehydration reactor to the primary distillation tower. In preferred embodiments, the conversion reactor feed from the primary distillation tower may be of a gaseous or liquid phase.

Abstract: For the distillation of a stream consisting essentially of alcohols of 6-20 carbon atoms, water and methanol, the methanol is first separated from the homogeneous, aqueous solution as the overhead product by distillation under a head pressure of 500-1,000 mbar. The bottoms discharge is mechanically separated under normal pressure and at a temperature of 5.degree.-95.degree. C. in a phase separator to obtain a discrete water phase preferably containing at least two thirds of the feedstream water. The remaining organic phase is then transferred from the phase separator into a second distillation column and the organic phase is dewatered in the latter at 100-500 mbar. The head product from the second column is conducted to a second phase separator; the aqueous phase is separated therein at a temperature of 5.degree.-95.degree. C. and optionally returned into the first phase separator. The bottom product from the second distillation column is passed into a downstream distillation stage wherein the C.sub.6 to C.

Abstract: Isobutyl acetate cannot be completely removed from isobutyl acetate--isobutanol--water mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum ternary azeotrope. Isobutyl acetate can be readily removed from mixtures containing it, isobutanol and water by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are N,N-dimethylacetamide; dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide; acetamide, dimethylformamide and dipropylene glycol.

Abstract: A process for the separation of water from a water-containing mixture of azeotrope, with an extractant which removes water from the mixture or azeotrope, recovery of the non aqueous portion of the mixture or azeotrope as a product, and regeneration of the extractant for reuse by the removal of water therefrom. A feature thereof is that residual water can be removed from the extractant, and the extractant regenerated for reuse by contacting the heated extractant with a portion of the same product from which the water has been removed; or, the extractant can be regenerated in the process by contact with an inert gas which has been dried in the process. The water-containing mixture or azeotrope is preferably contacted with a portion of the vaporous product to recover the heat of condensation for use in the process.

Abstract: A process for the separation of ethylene glycol from glycolated water obtained from the bottom of an ethylene oxide desorption column in a process for the manufacture of ethylene oxide by catalytic oxidation of ethylene by oxygen in the vapor phase, comprising feeding said glycolated water directly from the bottom of said ethylene oxide desorption column into the top of a separation column having therebelow up to 12 theoretical plates and adding sufficient indirect heat to said glycolated water to form two streams; a first gaseous stream consisting essentially of steam which is removed from the top of said separation column and introduced into said ethylene oxide desorption column to serve therein as the desorption fluid, and a second aqueous stream containing from about 40% to 90% by weight of ethylene glycol which is removed from the bottom of said separation column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of grade AA methanol by distilling raw methanol in several distillation stages, for separating grade AA methanol, tail gas, and fusel oil from the raw methanol and further processing the fusel oil to produce additional methanol of grade AA quality at a return ratio of 5:1 or higher.

Abstract: Improvement in an azeotropic distillation process, the improvement being the use of an entrainer characterized in that it is an organic compound in which one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced by halogen atoms, including at least one fluorine atom; it is miscible, under process conditions, with the organic compound being dehydrated; its volatility is sufficiently close to the volatility of the organic compound being dehydrated such that, under the process conditions, it forms an azeotrope with the organic compound; it is less miscible, under process conditions, with water than is the corresponding organic compound in which the halogen atoms are replaced with hydrogen atoms; and it is chemically stable under the process conditions.

Abstract: There is provided a process for making anhydrous alcohol denatured with gasoline for ready mixing with additional gasoline to make gasohol and in which aqueous alcohol is introduced into a dehydration drying column along with gasoline. The alcohol, containing gasoline, flows into the lower zone of the drying column and is recovered as a substantially non-aqueous alcohol-gasoline mixture which may be classified as completely denatured alcohol. The rising vapors of the gasoline entrain the water and some alcohol as azeotropes which flow out the top of the column as vapors which are condensed to form a gasoline layer which is returned to the column and a water layer which is removed. Additional water is also removed by decantation on the top several trays of the drying column where it is present as a separate liquid phase.

Abstract: A two-stage distillation method for separating a mixed liquid such as a dimethylformamide-containing aqueous liquid or a methanol-containing aqueous liquid, into light and heavy fractions. The mixed liquid is first subjected to a distillation treatment in a first distillation zone of a vapor recompression type. When the boiling point of the mixed liquid is close to that of the desired light fraction, the top product from the first distillation zone is recovered as the light fraction, while the bottom product is subjected to a further distillation treatment to obtain the heavy fraction as its bottom product. When the boiling point of the mixed liquid is close to that of the heavy fraction, the bottom product from the first distillation zone is recovered as the heavy fraction, while the top product from the first distillation zone is subjected to a further distillation treatment to obtain the light fraction as its top product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for dewatering an ethanol-water solution is disclosed wherein a carrier gas is used to vaporize the solution and transport the vapors to a sorbent where water is sorbed in preference to ethanol. The invention is particularly suited for small-scale production of fuel-grade ethanol for blending with gasoline.

Abstract: n-Butyl acetate cannot be completely removed from n-butyl acetate-n-butanol--water mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum ternary azeotrope. n-Butyl acetate can be readily removed from mixtures containing it, n-butanol and water by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide and acetamide, ethylene glycol propylene glycol, dimethylsulfoxide and acetamide.

Abstract: A process for preparing esters which comprises reacting a polycarboxylic acid with an excess of alcohol and in the presence of an organotitanate catalyst, treating the crude mixture with a suitable chelate compound, removing the unreacted alcohol and hydrolyzing the treated titanium catalyst residues with steam, and recovering the purified ester by filtration.

Abstract: A process for the separation of diisopropylether from a hydrocarbon stream containing it, by contacting the stream with ethylene glycol whereby the diisopropylether is absorbed by the glycol and a purified hydrocarbon stream is separated therefrom.

Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus for reconcentrating a liquid absorbent in an absorption system which method includes the steps of heating the rich liquid absorbent in a heating zone to vaporize a portion of the solute therefrom, flashing the partially reconcentrated absorbent into a flash separator and separating the lean liquid absorbent from the flashed vapors in the flash separator with the lean liquid absorbent being recycled to the absorption system and with the separated vapors being cooled to condense liquids and returning the stream of condensed liquids and vapors to the heating zone.