Abstract: In a solvent extraction process for the extraction of an extractive from extractive-containing material employing in an extraction zone operating under extraction conditions a process solvent, whereby a miscella comprising a portion of the process solvent and a portion of the extractive, and an extractive-depleted substrate is formed, the improvement to which comprises: (a) removing the miscella from the extraction zone under extraction conditions, (b) filtering the miscella by use of a microfiltration, an ultrafiltration, a nanofiltration, or a reverse osmosis membrane, under conditions which achieve a differential pressure across said membrane, to separate the solvent in the miscella from the extractive in the miscella, and (c) recycling under extraction conditions at least a portion of the separated solvent to the extraction zone.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 4, 1996
Date of Patent:
January 13, 1998
Assignee:
PreWell Industries, L.L.C.
Inventors:
John E. Prevost, Robert D. Clay, John R. Fielding