Abstract: A process for the separation of ethylene glycol from glycolated water obtained from the bottom of an ethylene oxide desorption column in a process for the manufacture of ethylene oxide by catalytic oxidation of ethylene by oxygen in the vapor phase, comprising feeding said glycolated water directly from the bottom of said ethylene oxide desorption column into the top of a separation column having therebelow up to 12 theoretical plates and adding sufficient indirect heat to said glycolated water to form two streams; a first gaseous stream consisting essentially of steam which is removed from the top of said separation column and introduced into said ethylene oxide desorption column to serve therein as the desorption fluid, and a second aqueous stream containing from about 40% to 90% by weight of ethylene glycol which is removed from the bottom of said separation column.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating at least one component of a mixture from another without the aid of gravity comprises, in one embodiment, a heat pipe structure having an inlet and spaced outlets, a wick element disposed within the heat pipe for inducing a capillary flow of condensed phase mixture in liquid form therealong and spaced heating and cooling elements for creating zones of higher and lower temperature, respectively, within the heat pipe structure. In an alternate embodiment, a sorbent column is provided having an inlet and spaced outlets, a sorbent material disposed along the inner wall of the column for inducing a flow of adsorbed mixture therealong and spaced heating and cooling elements for creating zones of higher and lower temperature.

Abstract: A process for decolorizing polyethylene polyamines using a chlorinated hydrocarbon. The discolored polyethylene polyamine and chlorinated hydrocarbon are contacted to form a decolorizing mixture, and the mixture is distilled. The decolored polyethylene polyamine is collected from the distillate.

Abstract: An apparatus for concentrating aqueous solutions of hygroscopic organic liquid having boiling points higher than the normal boiling point of water is disclosed. The apparatus includes an airtight evacuated chamber, means for injecting a preheated temperature adjusted solution into the chamber to vaporize water from the solution and produce a concentrated aerosol of organic liquid, and means for coalescing the concentrated aerosol. Also included is a system for recovery of organic vapor leaving the chamber along with the vaporized water.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing light oil from solids. The invention is particularly applicable to the removal of residual light oil from solids obtained in an apparatus where aqueous solids are mixed with a light fluidizing oil and subjected to dehydration by heat evaporation. Aqueous solids are mixed with a low viscosity, relatively volatile, water-immiscible light fluidizing oil in a fluidizing tank to obtain a mixture which will remain fluid and pumpable after removal of essentially its entire water content. The mixture of solids, water and fluidizing oil is subjected to a dehydration step by heat evaporation whereby substantially all of the water and at least part of the light oil are evaporated and subsequently recovered. The light fluidizing oil is then largely separated from the solids in a liquid-solid separating means. The solids carrying residual light fluidizing oil are then brought into direct contact in a deoiler apparatus with a hot, inert gas, referred to herein as "blowing gas.

Abstract: N-propanol and allyl alcohol cannot be separated from each other by distillation because of the proximity of their boiling points. N-propanol can be readily separated from allyl alcohol by using extractive distillation in which the extractive agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of two or more of these compound. Examples of effective agents are: dimethylsulfoxide; acetamide and ethylene glycol phenylether; adiponitrile; N,N-dimethylacetamide; dimethylformamide; and sulfolane.

Abstract: A water purification and hot water supply apparatus is provided including a feed water intake providing water in excess of the distilled water output, a heater controlling the quantity of water boiled, a waste water exit port to remove accumulated water above a certain level, a distilled water exit port in the vapor space, a condensing device to transfer the heat of condensation to a hot water tank and a waste water heat exchange device to transfer heat from the waste water to the hot water tank. A volatile organic compound removing tank to heat and vent off the contaminants is positioned to receive heat from the water in the still section of the apparatus which then feeds water to the feed water intake.

Abstract: Methacrylonitrile higher in purity than that obtained by the conventional process is efficiently produced by the present improved process for producing purified methacrylonitrile in which the reaction mixture formed by the ammoxidation of isobutylene or tert-butyl alcohol is distilled using water as solvent to obtain a crude methacrylonitrile solution which contains methacrylonitrile as major constituent, methacrolein, hydrogen cyanide, and isobutyronitrile, and the crude methacrylonitrile solution is then purified in a product column, wherein the improvement comprises first removing isobutyronitrile from said crude solution, then feeding the remaining solution to the product column, withdrawing from the top a vapor containing methacrolein, condensing the vapor, returning a greater part of the condensate to the product column while removing the remainder from the distillation system, and withdrawing purified methacrylonitrile from the middle or lower section, preferably from a point lower than the feeding sta

Abstract: Process is disclosed for treating the reaction product of propionic acid and formaldehyde to recover methacrylic acid from an aqueous effluent wherein said effluent contains methacrylic acid, unreacted formaldehyde, unreacted propionic acid, water and by-products.

Abstract: A process for the removal of gases dissolved in an aqueous solution containing up to about 15% by weight of ethylene oxide and up to about 0.5% by weight of dissolved gases which are selected from carbon dioxide and at least one other compound that is normally gaseous, comprising contacting said aqueous solution of ethylene oxide with water and at least one gas selected from one of said dissolved normally gaseous compounds; other than carbon dioxide or oxygen, for a time and at a temperature and pressure sufficient to effect substantially complete removal of said dissolved gases; said contact taking place in a separation column having an upper and a lower zone and up to 15 theoretical placed in each zone with said aqueous solution of ethylene oxide being added intermediate said zones, said gas being added to the bottom of said lower zone, and said water being added to the top of the upper zone.

Abstract: A still comprises a housing, a hollow rotor rotatably mounted in the housing and having one or more outlets for liquid at the periphery thereof, means for rotating the rotor about its axis, a plurality of concentric lamellar bodies of thermally conductive material mounted in the hollow interior of said rotor so as to provide a labyrinthine path within the rotor for liquid moving radially outwardly under centrifugal force and for vapor moving radially inwardly with respect to the rotor, vaporizing means for vaporizing liquid to be distilled, liquid inlet means for introducing liquid to a radially inner part of the hollow interior of said rotor, vapor outlet means communicating with a radially inner part of the hollow interior of said rotor, and liquid outlet means for removal of liquid from the housing, whereby in use vapor is constrained to move radially inwardly and liquid to move radially outwardly under centrifugal force within said rotor, fractionation occurring at least in part by condensation of vapor o

Abstract: A water purification process is described for the removal of ammonia and optionally one or more acid gases from wastewaters such as coke-plant or coal conversion wastewaters. The process involves adding alkali to these wastewaters in amounts sufficient to react with fixed ammonia salts present in the wastewater and to enable substantial amounts of the ammonia to be evolved upon distillation, and subjecting the thus treated wastewater to distillation to remove substantial amounts of the ammonia and acid gases present from the wastewater. This process is achieved by two separate and successive distillations. In this process, the vapor streams being withdrawn from the first and/or second distillations are subjected to an impurity removal process to thereby produce a vapor stream substantially reduced in impurities, and useful as a stripping vapor in this process, and then reusing this vapor stream as a stripping vapor in the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of grade AA methanol by distilling raw methanol in several distillation stages, for separating grade AA methanol, tail gas, and fusel oil from the raw methanol and further processing the fusel oil to produce additional methanol of grade AA quality at a return ratio of 5:1 or higher.

Abstract: n-Propyl acetate cannot be completely removed from n-propyl acetate - n-propanol - water mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum ternary azeotrope. n-Propyl acetate can be readily removed from mixtures containing it, n-propanol and water by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Examples of effective agents are N,N-dimethylacetamide; acetamide and triethylene glycol; acetamide and N,N-dimethylacetamide and triethanolamine.

Abstract: Improved process for the separation of a hydrocarbon-containing feedstream comprising monomer, comonomer and diluent into separate product streams which comprises subjecting the feedstream to two-stage distillation provided with a common accumulation zone wherein the condensate from the accumulation zone serves as the source of feed for the second distillation and reflux for the first distillation. In a specific embodiment, a feed comprising ethylene, 1-hexene, and isobutane is separated into separate streams of 1-hexene, ethylene and isobutane, and isobutane for recycle to polymerization.

Abstract: m-Xylene is difficult to separate from o-xylene by conventional rectification or distillation because of the close proximity of their boiling points. m-Xylene can be readily separated from o-xylene by using extractive distillation in which the extractive agent comprises propoxypropanol; propoxypropanol and 1,4-butanediol; ethyl benzoate and ethylene glycol phenyl ether and benzyl alcohol.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for the thin layer evaporation of liquid in which the thin layer to be evaporated is formed by centrifugation.It is characterized in that the pointed part of the said cone is immersed in a reserve of liquid to be evaporated and a communication is established between the external face of the said pointed part of the cone and the internal face of this cone, so that the thin layer subjected to evaporation is formed on the internal face and on the external face of the cone.It concerns a device and installation for the distillation by evaporation in thin layers, particularly for hydrocarbons, and process for operating this device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vaporization and condensation process for the fractionation of mixtures by continuously heating, in a circulation circuit, a clean heat transfer gas which is subsequently injected into a mixture to be fractionated (16), of which at least one liquid fraction, which has separated off by vaporization, is condensed and collected while the heat transfer gas returns to the circulation circuit.

Abstract: Tantalum (TaF.sub.5) or antimony pentafluoride (SbF.sub.5) is separated from a product mixture comprised of HF, isobutyryl fluoride and TaF.sub.5 or SbF.sub.5 by distillation below 760 mm of mercury.

Abstract: An apparatus for fractional distillation under vacuum, comprising an evacuable vessel enclosing a first zone for liquid to be distilled, a second zone for distillate and a third zone for residue. The vessel is provided with a plurality of vertical tubular elements having side walls forming evaporator surfaces and being provided with inlet means at their upper ends for directing liquid to be distilled from the first zone towards the evaporator surface. Each hollow element surrounds at least partly a vertical cooling surface to cause condensation of vaporized liquid to form distillate, each hollow element being further provided with means for separately withdrawing distillate and residue from its interior into the second zone and the third zone, respectively. The vessel preferably consists of detachably interconnected wall portions.