Abstract: Disclosed are a fluid extractant, and a process and apparatus for using the extractant to separate an organic liquid from an aqueous mixture. The extractant comprises a first fluid solvent which is a gas in its near-critical or supercritical state and a cosolvent. A preferred first fluid solvent is near-critical liquid carbon dioxide. Preferred cosolvents are 2-ethyl hexanol for ethanol extraction, and hexanoic acid for acetic acid extraction. Organic compounds such as monohydric alcohols, monoacids, ketones, ethers, aldehydes and esters can be recovered from dilute aqueous solutions more economically than possible by prior art processes of distillation.

Abstract: Apparatus for mixing materials, including a fluid, in a vessel, which apparatus includes a hollow elongated shaft mounted so as to be driven at one end for rotation about its axis of elongation within the vessel, the other end of the shaft in the vessel being open. A planar baffle plate extends across the vessel intermediate the ends of and transversely to the shaft so as to divide the vessel's interior into two zones joined by the fluid pervious clearance around the edge of the plate. The open end of the shaft is located in one of the zones; the walls of that portion of the shaft located in the second of the zones are perforated to permit fluid flow between the second zone and the shaft interior. A turbine impeller is also mounted on the shaft adjacent the open end of the latter so as to be rotatable with the shaft for creating a relatively low pressure in the volume of materials and fluid disposed immediately adjacent the open end of the shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed are a fluid extractant, and a process and apparatus for using the extractant to separate an organic liquid from an aqueous mixture. The extractant comprises a first fluid solvent which is a gas in its near-critical or supercritical state and a cosolvent. A preferred first fluid solvent is near-critical liquid carbon dioxide. Preferred cosolvents are 2-ethyl hexanol for ethanol extraction, and hexanoic acid for acetic acid extraction. Organic compounds such as monohydric alcohols, monoacids, ketones, ethers, aldehydes and esters can be recovered from dilute aqueous solutions more economically than possible by prior art processes of distillation.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of thermally decomposing wastes laden typically with organic solvents, other organic liquids and soluble organic materials, by first extracting such wastes in a pressure vessel using a fluid extractant in which the organics are soluble, thereby producing a fluid extract of the organics in the extractant fluid and a non-extracted residue of reduced BTU/lb value. The extractant fluid, typically propane, is preferably a gas at ordinary conditions of temperature and pressure but in the pressure vessel means is held to conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to render the extractant fluid a solvent for the organics. Means are provided for separating the residue from the organics extracted from the waste material, and the residue is burned typically in a solids incinerator. The fluid extract is separated into an extracted organics fraction and an extractant fraction, the latter being recycled for use in the pressure vessel.