Abstract: A liquid mixing collector 1 is disclosed which comprises a first and a second sump zone, 10, 20, a first and optionally a second liquid collection region, 40, 50, a first and a second interspersed set, 60, 70, of spaced apart liquid collection channels 80 positioned in a first liquid collection region 40; said first set 60 being associated with said first sump zone 10; said second set 70 being associated with said second sump zone 20; wherein adjacent liquid collection channels 80 of the first and second sets, 60, 70, are vertically displaced from each other in one of at least two to four parallel horizontal planes 100. The present invention also relates to a column comprising said collector 1, the use of said collector 1 in a mass transfer or heat exchange column, and a method of collecting and mixing descending liquid in a column.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packing layer (1) for structured packing (20), the packing layer (1) comprising 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) comprising 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 devolatilisation 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: The invention relates to a process for purification of a stream containing a cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid of formula (I), wherein each R independently represents hydrogen or an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 6 carbon atoms comprising the steps of: (a) separating the cyclic ester-containing stream into one or more cyclic ester-containing vapour fractions and one or more cyclic ester-containing liquid fractions; (b) condensing a cyclic ester-containing vaporized fraction as obtained in step (a) to obtain a cyclic ester-containing condensate; (c) subjecting at least part of the cyclic ester-containing condensate as obtained in step (b) to melt crystallization to obtain a purified cyclic ester-containing stream and a residue stream; and (d) recovering the purified cyclic ester-containing stream as obtained in step (c). The invention further relates to an apparatus suitable for carrying out the present process.

Abstract: A process to prepare a cyclic polyester oligomer composition comprising a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises the step of reacting a monomer component in the presence of an optional catalyst and/or optional organic base in a ring closing oligomerization step under conditions of a reaction temperature and reaction time sufficient to yield a cyclic polyester oligomer having furanic units. The invention further relates to a cyclic polyester oligomer composition obtainable by said process, wherein the cyclic polyester oligomer composition comprises a cyclic polyester oligomer of structure Y1 or Y2 having furanic units, wherein the composition contains less than 5%, preferably 3, most preferably 1 weight % of linear oligomeric polyester species in the composition. The present invention further relates also to the use of said cyclic polyester oligomer composition in the production of a polyester polymer.

Abstract: A process to prepare a polyester polymer composition comprising a polyester polymer having furanic units is disclosed. The process comprises the step of reacting a cyclic polyester oligomer in the presence of a catalyst in a ring-opening polymerization step under conditions of a reaction temperature and reaction time sufficient to yield a polyester polymer having furanic units. The invention further relates to a polyester polymer composition obtainable by said process, wherein the polyester polymer composition comprises a polyester polymer having furanic units and a cyclic polyester oligomer comprising either structure Y1 or Y2, preferably in a concentration of less than 5 wt %, more preferably less than 1, more preferably less than 0.5 in the composition. The present invention further relates also to the use of said polyester polymer composition in extrusion, injection molding, or blow molding.

Abstract: The valve cover has a guide vane extending laterally and downwardly from the central portion towards and in spaced relation to the tray deck for deflecting a majority of the vapor passing upwardly through an orifice downward towards the tray deck. A de-entrainment device with a downwardly angled deflector in vertical alignment with an orifice in the tray deck may be integrated or not with the valve cover below the tray deck.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction system (1) adapted for the flow of two or more liquids therein is disclosed. The system comprises a mixer settler sub-system (100) and a counter-current liquid-liquid extraction column (200). The sub-system (100) comprises one or more mixer settlers (110) connected in series, and the column (200) comprises either a mixing section (260) comprising an agitation means (261) and/or a static section (280) comprising an internal (281). The first outlet (131) of the mixer settler sub-system (100) is in fluid communication with the first inlet (221) of the column (200) and the second inlet (112) of the mixer settler sub-system (100) is in fluid communication with the second inlet (222) of the counter-current liquid-liquid extraction column (200). The invention further relates to a counter-current liquid-liquid extraction process for using said system 1.

Abstract: A droplet separator (10) includes a flow passage (5) through which a droplet charged gas can be conducted and through which this droplet charged gas can flow along a main flow direction (6), wherein a separation element (8) is arranged essentially in ring shape about the flow passage (5). The separation element (8) has a base element (11) and a top element (12) as well as a plurality of connection elements (1) which are arranged between the base element (11) and the top element (12). The connection element (1) includes a wall element (3, 13, 30) along which droplets of the droplet charged gas can be conducted as a film in the direction of the base element (11), wherein the wall element (3, 13, 30) has a separation surface which has a mean width of more than 1 mm.

Abstract: An apparatus for the introduction and for the distribution of a fluid into an inner space of a container includes an inlet passage and a distribution passage, wherein the inlet passage opens into the distribution passage so that the fluid can be guided from the inlet passage into the distribution passage. The distribution passage has a jacket which has at least one outlet opening. The inlet passage is connected to the distribution passage via at least one opening which is arranged in the jacket of the distribution passage.

Abstract: A method and plant for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation is disclosed. The reactive distillation column is configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column (1). A feed containing water and methyl acetate are brought into contact with a catalyst in a reactive space (19) to perform the hydrolysis of water and methyl acetate to methanol and acetic acid. The reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone (32), a first stripping zone (34) and a first reaction zone (33). A catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone (33). The column further comprises a product space (29) with at least a second rectification zone (42) and a second stripping zone (44). The second stripping zone (44) shares at least a portion of the column sump (38) with the first stripping zone (34).

Abstract: The valve cover has a guide vane extending laterally and downwardly from the central portion towards and in spaced relation to the tray deck for deflecting a majority of the vapor passing upwardly through an orifice downward towards the tray deck. A de-entrainment device with a downwardly angled deflector in vertical alignment with an orifice in the tray deck may be integrated or not with the valve cover below the tray deck.

Abstract: A packing layer for a structured packing which has corrugations forming open channels. Each channel includes first and second corrugation peaks bounding a first corrugation valley with each corrugation peak having an apex and the corrugation valley having a valley bottom. A spacer element is mounted on and extends along the apex of at least one corrugation peak. The spacer element has an edge which has a larger normal spacing from the valley bottom than, the spacing of the apex of the corrugation peak from the valley bottom.

Abstract: A method of mass transfer includes the steps of: supplying a first fluid and a second fluid into a mass transfer apparatus, wherein the mass transfer apparatus includes a vessel which has a head region, a base region and a mass transfer region, wherein the first fluid is brought into contact with the second fluid at least in the mass transfer region, wherein the mass transfer region is arranged between the head region and the base region and the mass transfer region includes a structured packing which includes a plurality of neighboring layers of fabric which includes fiber strands of a non-metallic material. The mass transfer apparatus is operated at a fluid load of at most 3 m3/m2/h. The fabric of the structured packing includes fiber strands of a non-metallic material which are formed as weft threads, wherein the weft threads have a yarn count of at least 100 g/1000 m and the weft threads include at least 20 yarns/25.4 mm.

Abstract: A method of mass transfer includes the steps of: supplying a first fluid and a second fluid into a mass transfer apparatus, wherein the mass transfer apparatus includes a vessel which has a head region, a base region and a mass transfer region, wherein the first fluid is brought into contact with the second fluid at least in the mass transfer region, wherein the mass transfer region is arranged between the head region and the base region and the mass transfer region includes a structured packing which includes a plurality of neighboring layers of fabric which includes fiber strands of a non-metallic material. The mass transfer apparatus is operated at a fluid load of at most 3 m3/m2/h. The fabric of the structured packing includes fiber strands of a non-metallic material which are formed as weft threads, wherein the weft threads have a yarn count of at least 100 g/1000 m and the weft threads include at least 20 yarns/25.

Abstract: A method and plant for obtaining acetic acid and methanol from the hydrolysis of methyl acetate by reactive distillation is disclosed. The reactive distillation column is configured as a divided wall reactive distillation column (1). A feed containing water and methyl acetate are brought into contact with a catalyst in a reactive space (19) to perform the hydrolysis of water and methyl acetate to methanol and acetic acid. The reactive space comprises at least a first rectification zone (32), a first stripping zone (34) and a first reaction zone (33). A catalyst is provided in the first reaction zone (33). The column further comprises a product space (29) with at least a second rectification zone (42) and a second stripping zone (44). The second stripping zone (44) shares at least a portion of the column sump (38) with the first stripping zone (34).

Abstract: The liquid distributor includes a channel for the reception of a liquid which is divided by a dividing wall into a first chamber and a second chamber. An inlet element for a liquid opens into the first chamber to fill the first chamber with the liquid. Openings are provided in the dividing wall so that the liquid can be distributed from the first chamber via the openings into the second chamber in the form of jets to create turbulent vortices.

Abstract: The crown element for securing a packing in a mass transfer column comprises an elongate sheet which comprises a roof element, a wall element and a bottom element. A first bending line is formed between the roof element and the wall element and a second bending line is formed between the wall element and the bottom element. Incisions are formed in the roof element and grooves are formed in the bottom element. The number of incisions is smaller than the number of grooves.

Abstract: A method of mass transfer includes the steps of: supplying a first fluid and a second fluid into a mass transfer apparatus, wherein the mass transfer apparatus includes a vessel which has a head region, a base region and a mass transfer region, wherein the first fluid is brought into contact with the second fluid at least in the mass transfer region, wherein the mass transfer region is arranged between the head region and the base region and the mass transfer region includes a structured packing which includes a plurality of neighboring layers of fabric which includes fiber strands of a non-metallic material. The mass transfer apparatus is operated at a fluid load of at most 3 m3/m2/h.

Abstract: An apparatus for the mixing conveying of fluids with heat exchange includes a housing with installations that each include a first hollow structure for conveying a first fluid while a second fluid is able to flow around the first hollow structure. The second fluid flows along a main flow direction which is substantially disposed along the longitudinal axis of the housing. A second hollow structure is provided through which the first fluid can flow and which can be flowed around by the second fluid with the second hollow structure being arranged cross-wise with respect to the first hollow structure. The hollow structures have a flow cross-section with a first width B1 and a second width B2, with B1/B2 being larger than one and B1 oriented normally to a plane which contains the longitudinal axis of the housing or a line parallel to the longitudinal axis and an axis of the hollow structure.