Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following method steps: (a) carrying out a pre-fractionation stage as a layer crystallization (i) with a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax or (ii) with a crude solvent mixture obtained by adding prior to the pre-fractionation stage at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the crude mixture, to prepare a first fraction containing low waxy oil and a second fraction containing low oily wax, (b) carrying out a first crystallization stage including (b1) a first suspension crystallization sub-stage with the first fraction containing low waxy oil to prepare a third fraction containing dewaxed oil and a fourth fraction and (b2) after the first suspension crystallization sub-stage, a second suspension crystallization sub-stage with a mixture of the fourth fraction obtained in method step (b1) and the second fraction containing

Abstract: A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus includes a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray. The apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray. Apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows. The apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row. Centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row. Adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows.

Abstract: A method is provided which reduces the transition time and/or the polymer waste in a continuous polymerization plant and/or process having a back-mixing reactor when polymer grades are changed from a first polymer grade to a second polymer grade. A monomer(s) and processing agent(s) are introduced to the reactor. The concentration of the processing agent(s) in a feed stream to the reactor is varied as a function of time from a first value associated with the first polymer grade to a final value associated with the second polymer grade. During the concentration variation one or more intermediate values of processing agent concentration are adjusted between at a first value, an intermediate value(s), and a final value. The intermediate values may be maintained for a time which is calculated on the basis of only residence time and steady-state correlations between input and output of the reactor and/or of the polymerization plant. The method is performed without performing dynamic modelling.

Abstract: A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus includes a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray. The apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray. Apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows. The apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row. Centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row. Adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows.

Abstract: A fluid contact tray (10) for a fractionation column (1), in particular a vapor-liquid contact tray suitable for the use in an offshore fractionation column, comprises: ?a tray deck (12) comprising an active mass transfer surface (20) suitable for contacting two fluids (l, g) of different densities, wherein the active mass transfer surface (20) comprises one or more orifices (18) for the passage of a fluid/gas (g), and wherein at least two at least partially radially extending separation walls (22-1, 22-2, 22-3, 22-4) and/or at least one separation weir (42) are arranged on the active mass transfer surface (20), which divides the active mass transfer surface (20) into at least two sections (24-1, 24-2, 24-3, 24-4), ?an annular channel (26) suitable for collecting fluids/liquids (l), which is arranged at the peripheral area of the active mass transfer surface (20) and at least partially embraces the mass transfer surface (20), ?a central downcomer (34) for collecting and discharging a fluid/liquid (l) from the

Abstract: A vapor-liquid contact tray apparatus includes a tray having a plurality of apertures for passage of fluid through the tray. The apertures are arranged in a first group of three adjacent rows extending substantially parallel to a main liquid flow path of the tray. Apertures of the middle row are offset along the main liquid flow path on the tray from adjacent apertures of the other two rows to form a triangular pattern of adjacent apertures across the three adjacent rows. The apertures have a length and a width, each length is oriented substantially parallel to its row and each width is oriented substantially perpendicular to its row. Centers of adjacent apertures within each row are separated by a first spacing which is equal to or between 2.5 and 4.5 times the average length of the apertures in that row. Adjacent rows are separated by a second spacing which is equal to or between 1.5 and 2.5 times the average width of the apertures of the adjacent rows.

Abstract: A process to prepare a polyester polymer composition comprising a polyester polymer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises a step of ring-opening polymerization of a cyclic polyester oligomer, which comprises residue of furandicarboxylic acid and a diol, in the presence of a catalyst in order to yield a polyester polymer having furanic units. The polyester polymer composition obtainable by the process, wherein the polyester polymer composition comprises a polyester polymer having furanic units and a cyclic polyester oligomer in a concentration of less than 5 wt % of the composition. The use of the polyester polymer composition in extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packing layer (1) for structured packing (20), the packing layer (1) having a plurality of structural elements (2), and the structural elements (2) being shaped and arranged in such a manner that they form a first fine structure (3), and adjacent structural elements (2) having a first spacing (a), the packing layer (1) having a plurality of protrusions (4) that are shaped and arranged in such a manner that they form a second fine structure (5), and adjacent protrusions (4) having a second spacing (b). According to the invention, the structural elements (2) and the protrusions (4) are formed without perforations.

Abstract: A static internal (1) embodied so as to be suitable for improving a contact, heat transfer or mass transfer between the liquids in an agitated liquid-liquid contactor (3) lacking calming sections and having an metallic agitated internal (2). The surface energy of the static internal (1) is <40, preferably <30, more preferably <25, most preferably <20 mN/m.

Abstract: A static devolatilization apparatus (1) for germ reduction of a fluid is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a housing (10), an inlet (12), an outlet (14), a fluid-contacting surface (20) comprising a biocide (22) embodied to reduce the germ count of the fluid (2), wherein the fluid-contacting surface (20) is a fluid-contacting surface (20) of a static mixing element (30). The present invention further relates to a process for reducing the germ count of a fluid containing germs (2?) using the apparatus (1) and also to the use of the apparatus (1) in the germ reduction of fuel oil, of food products, or water decontamination, preferably decontamination of waste water, industrial process water, or the treatment of drinking water.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the purification of a crude acrylic acid composition containing maleic anhydride as an impurity comprising the following steps: (a) carrying out at least one dynamic melt crystallization stage (14, 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d) with the crude acrylic acid composition to prepare a first purified acrylic acid composition and a first residue containing at least 3.5% by weight maleic anhydride, (b) adding a solvent (26) which is capable of dissolving maleic anhydride to the first residue in an amount that the weight ratio of the solvent to the maleic anhydride is 0.3 or more to prepare a ratio-adjusted residue and (c) carrying out at least one further dynamic melt crystallization stage and/or at least one static melt crystallization stage (18, 18a, 18b) with the ratio-adjusted residue to prepare a second purified acrylic acid composition and a second residue.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packing element for a structured packing including at least two adjacent corrugated sheets, wherein each of the corrugated sheets has a plurality of alternately oriented peaks and troughs, wherein adjacent corrugated sheets are oriented such that the corrugations of the adjacent corrugated sheets intersect in crisscross fashion with the corrugations of the corrugated sheets extending obliquely relative to the vertical direction, wherein each corrugated sheet contacts each of the adjacent corrugated sheets at points of intersection between the corrugations of the corrugated sheet and those of the adjacent corrugated sheets, wherein all corrugated sheets are tied together by means of at least one rod, wherein the at least one rod penetrates the corrugated sheets perpendicularly to the longitudinal section of the corrugated sheets, wherein on the at least one rod before the first corrugated sheet of the packing element and/or after the last corrugated sheet of the packing eleme

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following method steps: (a) carrying out a pre-fractionation stage as a layer crystallization (i) with a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax or (ii) with a crude solvent mixture obtained by adding prior to the pre-fractionation stage at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the crude mixture, to prepare a first fraction containing low waxy oil and a second fraction containing low oily wax, (b) carrying out a first crystallization stage including (b1) a first suspension crystallization sub-stage with the first fraction containing low waxy oil to prepare a third fraction containing dewaxed oil and a fourth fraction and (b2) after the first suspension crystallization sub-stage, a second suspension crystallization sub-stage with a mixture of the fourth fraction obtained in method step (b1) and the second fraction containing

Abstract: A modular sub-unit for the production of crystals in a suspension crystallization system includes: a first crystallization segment, at least one further crystallization segment, a first mixing segment, optional further mixing segments, an inlet cap, an outlet cap. The inlet cap and outlet cap are in fluid communication with any crystallization segments and any mixing segments present within the sub-unit. The sub-unit further includes a central rotating axis for providing mechanical energy to the crystallization segments and preferably the mixing segments. The crystallization segments present in the sub-unit are separated from each other by a mixing segment. Also described are a suspension crystallization system which includes the sub-unit and a suspension crystallization process making use of the sub-unit.

Abstract: A static devolatilisation apparatus (1) adapted for devolatilising a viscous liquid (2) comprising a volatile component is disclosed. The apparatus (1) comprises a phase separation chamber (100) in an upper region (5) for treating the viscous liquid (2) in a first devolatilisation step to form a first devolatilised viscous liquid (21), and a distributor sub-unit 200 is located below the phase separation chamber (100) and above a lower sump region (4). The sub-unit (200) has a second discharge region (222) embodied such that it is contacted by the first devolatilised viscous liquid (21), and the region (222) has a surface (223) embodied such that the first devolatilised viscous liquid (21) is treated in a second devolatilisation step. The present invention further relates to a process to devolatilising a viscous liquid using the apparatus (1) and also to the use of the apparatus (1) in the devolatilisation of polymer melt or solution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following steps: (a) mixing the crude mixture with a solvent to obtain a crude solvent-mixture, (b) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the solvent-mixture obtained in step (a) to prepare a first fraction containing dewaxed oil and a second fraction containing slack wax, (c) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the second fraction obtained in step (b) in a layer crystallizer, wherein to the second fraction prior to the crystallization in step (c) no solvent or at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the second fraction are added, to prepare a third fraction containing hard wax having an oil content of at most 1.5% by weight and a fourth fraction containing soft wax having an oil content of more than 1.

Abstract: A process for desalinating water is disclosed. The process comprises the steps of passing a feed stream of saline solution 2? in a first desalination step through a reverse osmosis membrane desalination plant 3? comprising at least one reverse osmosis desalination unit 4? to form a first product water stream 5? having a reduced salt concentration relative to that of the feed stream of saline solution 2? and a first byproduct stream 6? having an increased salt concentration relative to that of the feed stream of saline solution 2? characterized in that the first byproduct stream 6? is passed in a second desalination step through a falling film crystallization unit 7 to form a second product water stream 8 having a reduced salt concentration relative to that of the first byproduct stream 6? and a second byproduct stream 9 having an increased salt concentration relative to that of the first byproduct stream 6?. The invention further relates to an apparatus 1 for carrying out said process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purifying a crude benzoic acid (32) containing 5 to 20% by weight of byproducts and 80 to 95% by weight of benzoic acid, by means of distillation, wherein the distillation is performed in a plant comprising a first distillation system (54), which comprises a divided wall column (10).

Abstract: A wash separator comprises a vessel containing a first fluid and a second fluid whereby the second fluid has a different density from the first fluid. The first fluid (3) is immiscible with the second fluid and the first and second fluids are separated from each other by an interface. A feed stream comprising a dispersion of the first and second fluid wherein the second fluid forms a disperse phase in the form of droplets is distributed within the first fluid in the vessel forming a continuous phase. A distribution element is provided in the vessel to distribute the feed stream into the second fluid. The feed stream after having been discharged from the distribution element has a retention time of at most 15 minutes in the feed second fluid in the vessel.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a polyester from cyclic ester monomer comprises the steps of: a) providing a cyclic ester, b) polymerizing the cyclic ester in the presence of a catalyst and optionally an initiator in a reactor to form a reaction mixture comprising polyester and unreacted cyclic ester, wherein after the polymerization at least one polymerization inhibitor is added to the reaction mixture, wherein the polymerization inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of monoimines, diimines, mono alkyl phosphates according to the formula RPO4H2, wherein R is a C6-16 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, di alkyl phosphates according to the formula R2PO4H, wherein each R is independently a C6-16 linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group or a combination thereof, and phosphate esters according to the general formula (I) wherein at least one of R?, R? and R?? has the general structure as in general formula (II) wherein n>0 and Q is independently a C1-16 linear, branched or substituted alkyl group, and R