Abstract: An improved distillation method and apparatus are provided for recovering hydrous ethanol from fermentation or synthetic feedstocks. Substantial energy savings are realized by utilizing a pair of stripper-rectifier towers in which overhead vapors from one tower operating at a higher pressure supply the heat required for the other tower operating at a lower pressure and by preheating the feedstock in multiple heat exchange steps. The feedstock is split into two portions of unequal size, the larger portion being supplied to the higher pressure tower and the smaller portion to the lower pressure tower.

Abstract: A process and apparatus especially suited for distilling alcohol from aqueous fermentation liquors wherein liquid vapors from a body of a liquid mixture (4) which is to be distilled pass from a container (2) holding the liquid mixture to a vapor heating chamber (8) disposed above the container where the vapors are heated by solar radiation and/or heat exchange with a source of process heat. The vapors are then withdrawn from the vapor heating chamber, compressed, passed in heat exchange relation with the liquid mixture and introduced into a reflux column (15) disposed in the interior of the body of liquid to be distilled near the center of the container. An aqueous fraction (24) is collected from the bottom of the reflux column, and an alcohol vapor fraction is withdrawn from the top of the reflux column and further condensed in heat exchange contact with the liquid mixture to produce an alcohol fraction (32).

Abstract: The recovery of alcohol from fermentation liquors is accomplished by the evaporation of the liquor feed and simultaneous rectification of the volatile component. Evaporation of the liquor feed can be accomplished by a single flash evaporation or multiple effect evaporation combined with the flash evaporation in which the flash evaporator is one effect of the multiple effect evaporator. A concentrated alcohol component is recovered along with a concentrated residue useful as a fertilizer or animal feed supplement.

Abstract: In a process of preparing triaryl phosphates by direct esterification which comprisesA. Reaction Steps:The steps of(a) Reacting a hydroxyaryl with phosphoric acid or equivalent to form an aryl phosphate and water(b) Removing the water by entrainment by means of hydroxyaryl vapor, and(c) Condensing the water-containing entraining vapor, andB. Dehydration Step:The step of separating the water from the water-containing entraining vapor by distillation, andC. Recycling Steps:The steps of(a) Evaporating the dry hydroxyaryl liquid and(b) Using its vapor as the entraining vapor in step (A, b).the improvement which comprisesI. Carrying out the Reaction Steps A at essentially higher pressure than the Dehydration Step B, andII. Using all, or part of, the water-containing hydroxyaryl vapor from Step (A, b) as the heating medium in Step B.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously fermenting a moist particulate feed and distilling the fermentation product is disclosed in which a pressure-locked auger forces a moist particulate feed from a hopper into a fermentation tank, liquor is removed from the tank and solids are separated therefrom to produce a beer which is distilled in a distillation column. A combustion engine powers the auger and the means for separating solids, and the engine exhaust surrounds an inlet section of said auger to help heat the pressurized feed therein to produce fermentable sugar within the auger, and the auger includes a section passing to the tank in heat exchange relation to the distillation column to provide heat for distillation. The column is a multistage column angled to face the sun and has an upper glass plate to allow solar radiation to enter and penetrate between the foraminous plates of the column.

Abstract: Solar distillation apparatus are disclosed in which a substantial part of the heat of condensation of the condensing liquid is recovered. A conduit having an inclined smooth lower surface is disposed above the liquid to be distilled and on which the evaporated liquid condenses and releases its heat of condensation. A fluid is circulated through the conduit in a heat exchanging relationship with the lower surface thereof, the fluid absorbing a substantial part of the released heat of condensation. The condensed liquid flows along the bottom of the inclined lower surface and is discharged from the lower end thereof and collected. The conduit in the preferred embodiments is flat and transparent and the spacing between the upper and lower walls of the conduit is selected so that only a small part of the solar energy is absorbed in the conduit while the fluid in the conduit recovers a substantial part of the released heat of condensation.

Abstract: A process is described for the removal of acid gases and ammonia from dilute aqueous solutions. This is achieved by two separate and successive distillations. In the first distillation, substantially all of the acid gases and free ammonia are removed. In the second distillation, substantially all of the fixed ammonia is removed. Exemplary aqueous solutions are waste waters from coke oven and coal conversion plants.

Abstract: Substantially anhydrous (absolute) ethanol is economically distilled at high thermal efficiency from any dilute feedstock such as, for example, a fermentate ("beer") or the ethanol obtained from the hydration of ethylene in apparatus including a rectifying column for concentrating the ethanol, an anhydrous column for azeotropically distilling the ethanol and a decanter for separating the azeotrope-forming agent from the aqueous ethanol. Thermal values which would otherwise be lost in overhead vapors and/or stillage effluent are utilized for preheating the ethanol feed thereby leading to a significant improvement in overall thermal efficiency. Low boiling impurities, e.g., ethyl acetate, which may be present in the feed and which could interfere with proper operation of the decanter are removed from the feed to the extent necessary in a heads stripping column operated with heat supplied from the rectifying column.

Abstract: A process for distilling multicomponent hydrocarbon mixtures in which the relative volatility between the dominant component in the lightest product and the dominant component in the heaviest component is between 1.10 and 7. The hydrocarbon mixture is fed to groups of distillation columns each of which is provided with an overhead condenser and a bottom reboiler, the columns being arranged in succession to receive the product from the prior adjacent column. The operating pressure in the columns increases from the first column to the final column within prescribed limits and the products of the mixture are separately recovered at one time in the final column without being withdrawn from intermediate distillation columns. Heat is recovered from heat source streams of the process by heat exchange with heat sink streams by bringing the streams successively in contact with a plurality of groups of heat exchangers, each group being at a different temperature level.

Abstract: Waste water recovered from a nitrile production effluent, containing ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, carbon dioxide and water soluble polymers is stripped of ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen cyanide to produce an aqueous stream containing the water soluble polymer. At least a portion of this stream is introduced into a steam scrubber to generate steam therefrom, with scrubber bottoms and any remaining water from the stripping operation being introduced into a reboiler to provide steam for the stripping and an aqueous concentrate of the water soluble polymer. Heat for the reboiler can be provided by indirect heat transfer with steam from the scrubber which produces a condensate suitable as feed water for steam generation.

Abstract: A process for solvent extraction of oil from oil bearing diatomite ore and an apparatus for use therewith, wherein the ore is extracted by countercurrent decantation with a hydrocarbon solvent, solvent is recovered from the extract by multiple effect evaporation followed by stripping, and the spent diatomite is contacted with water to displace a major portion of the solvent therefrom, and solvent is recovered from the aqueous slurry of the spent diatomite by stripping with steam at superatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for purifying waste water which comprises introducing said waste water into a separation zone, removing a portion of the impurities recovered from said separation zone, and concentrating said impurities by their introduction into an evaporation system to form a still fluid residue and remaining impurities composed of impurities in gaseous and vapor form together with waste vapors, transferring said remaining impurities to an oxidation chamber, and supplying said oxidation chamber with heat and air, thereby oxidizing said remaining impurities through spontaneous combustion, wherein the proportion of the low boiling-point impurities in the waste water introduced into the separation zone is adjusted to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An improved solvent recovery process comprising distilling soiled solvent in a main still and conducting hot solvent vapor through a heat exchanger associated with a tank in which an azeotropic mixture of water and soiled solvent is maintained, which mixture boils at a temperature lower than the boiling point of the solvent alone. A series of tanks feed soiled solvent to the azeotropic mixture tank and then to the main still, and heat exchangers fed by the vapor from the main still and the vapor from the azeotropic mixture tank pre-heat the soiled solvent. Automatic control of water injection into the azeotropic mixture tank in dependence upon the temperature of conductivity of the tank contents maintains the composition of the azeotropic mixture, the injected water being taken from separators which separate water from condensate of the main still and azeotropic mixture tank vapors.

Abstract: A method is provided for the transfer of heat from a source of thermal energy to at least one thermal user or heat consuming apparatus wherein waste water, such as from an industrial process, is used as the heat transfer medium and wherein a portion of the waste water flow is evaporated in an indirect heat exchanger under pressure to yield a mixture of steam and heated liquid waste water. The steam is supplied to an indirect heat exchanger for supplying heat to the heat consuming apparatus and the heated waste water is subsequently vaporized in a plurality of stages by reducing the pressure on the waste water in each stage and by using the steam formed by the vaporization in each stage to supply part of the heat of vaporization for the waste water in the subsequent stage. When the heat requirement of the heat consuming apparatus is reduced, the heat exchanger supplying heat to the heat consuming apparatus may be valved out of the system or the steam flow thereto may be reduced.

Abstract: Purified methanol is produced by distilling a water methanol mixture in (a) a first column from which is taken a product methanol stream at an upper level, weakly aqueous methanol as a side stream and water as bottoms and (b) a second column in which that weakly aqueous methanol is separated into an overhead product stream and aqueous methanol bottoms. The first column may be preceded by a preliminary volatiles-removal column. The process is economical in heat consumption, especially when methanol vapor from the second column is heat-exchanged with the feed or bottoms of the first column.

Abstract: Recovery of substantially pure water for reuse from waste feed solutions, saline solutions, etc. is carried out at considerably lower capital and/or operating costs using a modified absorption cycle. The process is carried out under vacuum so that relatively low temperature heat sources can be used to evaporate water as well as high temperature sources. The system comprises an evaporator, an absorber, a generator and condenser. A portion of the feed solution entering the evaporator vaporizes due to its latent heat and the vacuum of the system. The water vapor product is absorbed by an absorbent in the absorber. The absorbent solution is transferred to a higher pressure zone in the generator where the water held by the absorbent is vaporized. This vaporized water is condensed for recovery. A heat transfer medium is applied to each stage to either apply or remove heat as appropriate.

Abstract: In a fractionation system wherein a stream of heat-containing fluid is taken from a zone effecting at least a partial control of at least one operating condition in said zone by withdrawing said fluid at a rate responsive to and correlated with a change in said condition and utilizing the heat in said withdrawn fluid.

Abstract: An impure liquid is continuously distilled in a deaerated conduit arranged in a coil to present adjacent loops in heat exchange relationship. The conduit is divided by a partial partition into a distilland trough and a distillate trough, the latter being on the outside of each loop. The impure liquid is introduced into the distilland trough for flow therealong and vaporization, and the resultant vapor crosses over to the distillate trough due to centrifugal force and condensation within the distillate trough. As the vapor condenses in the distillate trough, the heat of condensation is transferred to the distilland trough of the adjacent downstream loop and to the incoming liquid flowing in a feed tube lying in the distillate trough. Spaced obstructions to vapor flow in the distillate trough and flow guide fins are employed to increase efficiency. A number of coils may be stacked to provide a multi-unit distillation system.

Abstract: The double effect floating solar still uses a partly immersed corrugated metal plate to heat the upper layer of a body of water in order to establish a temperature difference between the upper and lower sections of the still. The difference in temperature creates a difference in vapor pressures, forcing the vapor produced in the hot section of the still to flow into a submerged condenser, giving up the heat of condensation to the surrounding water, preheating it before it reaches the stage of evaporation.

Abstract: A methanol production process including synthesis gas generation, methanol synthesis and methanol distillation includes an autonomous system in which low pressure steam is raised by heat exchange with a fluid stream at 120.degree.-300.degree. C. in the process, the low pressure steam is used as live steam to heat at least distillation column in the distillation section and bottoms water from a distillation column in that section is used as feed to the autonomous steam system.

Abstract: Waste water resulting from the production of acrylonitrile by gas phase oxidation of propylene and ammonia with oxygen as washing water in the recovery section is purified by treating the waste water with 0.4 to 1 ton of steam per ton of waste water in a detoxification column attached to or following the separation column (for the separation of acetonitrile and acrylonitrile from the waste water in the acrylonitrile process) at a temperature from 100.degree. to 125.degree. C, at a pressure of 0 to 2 (gauge) atmospheres; separating the non-volatile resinous organic compounds from the thus treated waste water in an evaporator and using the vapors from the top of said evaporator to heat the said separation column and detoxification column; and optionally adding an organic amine to said distillation column or to said evaporator.

Abstract: A fractionation scheme applicable to a transalkylation process in which an admixture of toluene and C.sub.9 alkylbenzene is converted to benzene and C.sub.8 alkylbenzene is disclosed. Transalkylation zone effluent containing C.sub.6 to C.sub.10 + alkylbenzene is passed into a fractionation zone wherein an admixture of benzene and toluene is withdrawn as a lower boiling fraction, and C.sub.8 + alkylbenzenes are withdrawn in admixture as a higher boiling fraction. The benzene and toluene fraction is introduced into a fractionator and separated therein. The C.sub.8 + fraction is fractionated into xylenes and C.sub.9 +. The C.sub.9 + fraction is fractionated into a C.sub.9 /C.sub.10 overhead fraction and C.sub.10 + bottoms fraction. Toluene and C.sub.9 /C.sub.10 are then fed to the transalkylation zone. Significant savings in utilities are realized by using a xylene vapor fraction to reboil the column fractionating transalkylation zone effluent, and by using the C.sub.9 /C.sub.

Abstract: In a fractional distillation process and apparatus two columns are intercoupled to provide variable reboil in one and variable reflux in the other so as to approach closely to thermodynamically ideal fractionation. The variable reboil column has a series of heat transfer assemblies at different levels up its height and these are fed with vapor withdrawn from respective different levels of the variable reflux column. Partial condensation of each withdrawn stream takes place in the respective heat transfer assembly, after which the partially condensed stream is returned to the variable reflux column at a level close to the level at which the corresponding vapor was withdrawn. The variable reflux column will ordinarily be at a higher pressure, and mounted at a lower level than the variable reboil column.

Abstract: Antifreeze agents such as methanol used in treating hydrocarbon-containing streams to prevent the formation of hydrates and ice are recovered in a combination process comprising extraction, fractionation, and stripping together with a common reboiler system for the fractionation and stripping. One process comprises a combination of solvent extracting methanol with water, fractionation of the water-methanol extract to separate methanol overhead, further treatment of the fractionation bottoms by stripping to remove residual methanol overhead which is returned to the fractionation zone, and recycling at least a portion of the fractionation bottoms as solvent to the initial extraction step.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing fresh water which utilizes the energy of surface waves in an ocean, and comprises a buoyant helical member mounted for rotation about an axis. The pitch of the helical member approximates the length of the expected waves and the member is floated on the surface with its axis oriented so that each wave traverses the helix lengthwise and buoyantly supports successive sections thereof causing it to rotate about its axis. The helix is coupled with transducer means for using the rotational energy of the helix to distill the sea water. The ocean is used also as a cooling medium in the distillation process.

Abstract: A water-free mixture of isopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl ether and by-products is made by the catalytic hydration of propylene in the gaseous phase at temperatures of 140.degree.-170.degree.C under pressures of 25-40 atmospheres gauge. A water-to-propylene molar ratio of 0.1 to 0.25:1 is maintained in the hydration reaction. The crude product from the hydration reaction is dehydrated or dewatered in two columns without using a foreign withdrawing agent. Instead, diiosopropyl ether formed in the process itself is utilized as the withdrawing agent which is subsequently added to the water-free mixture together with additionally formed by-products. The water-free mixture formed according to the process can be used directly as an additive to gasoline fuel for motor vehicles.