Abstract: Purified methanol is produced by distilling a water methanol mixture in (a) a first column from which is taken a product methanol stream at an upper level, weakly aqueous methanol as a side stream and water as bottoms and (b) a second column in which that weakly aqueous methanol is separated into an overhead product stream and aqueous methanol bottoms. The first column may be preceded by a preliminary volatiles-removal column. The process is economical in heat consumption, especially when methanol vapor from the second column is heat-exchanged with the feed or bottoms of the first column.

Abstract: There is disclosed an azeotropic distillation process for separating and recovering hexamethyl disiloxane (HMDO) from toluene in a spent liquor mixture. An HMDO azeotrope former, pyrrolidone, is added to the liquor. The pyrrolidine is added in an amount of at least about 1.81 parts by weight per 1.0 part by weight of HMDO. Preferably, it is added in excess, as about 2.7 to about 5.4 parts by weight of pyrrolidine per 1.0 part by weight of HMDO. The resulting azeotrope of HMDO and pyrrolidine is then separated by distillation from the liquor. The pyrrolidine may be subsequently recovered from the HMDO by extraction with water. Other HMDO azeotrope formers, such as tertiary butanol, may also be utilized.

Abstract: A solar desalination system comprising a tank having a transparent cover. Salt water to be distilled is introduced into the tank at an inlet spaced from the cover while brackish or waste water is withdrawn from the tank through an outlet at substantially the same level as the inlet. A closed circuit air loop includes a tubular sparger of porous material which extends along the tank bottom in slightly spaced relation thereto. Air under pressure is delivered to the sparger at one end by a conduit passing through the end wall of the tank and a pump. Moisture-free air is introduced into the pump by a tube extending from a condenser. Vapor-saturated air is exhausted from the tank at a level between the water surface and the cover and is conveyed to the condenser through a pipe. Distilled water is taken from the bottom of the condenser. In a modified embodiment, the compressor is bypassed by a duct extending from the tube to the conduit and includes an adjustable valve.

Abstract: Recovery of substantially pure water for reuse from waste feed solutions, saline solutions, etc. is carried out at considerably lower capital and/or operating costs using a modified absorption cycle. The process is carried out under vacuum so that relatively low temperature heat sources can be used to evaporate water as well as high temperature sources. The system comprises an evaporator, an absorber, a generator and condenser. A portion of the feed solution entering the evaporator vaporizes due to its latent heat and the vacuum of the system. The water vapor product is absorbed by an absorbent in the absorber. The absorbent solution is transferred to a higher pressure zone in the generator where the water held by the absorbent is vaporized. This vaporized water is condensed for recovery. A heat transfer medium is applied to each stage to either apply or remove heat as appropriate.

Abstract: A solar still apparatus having a condensation chamber is disclosed. A plurality of hollow columns are connected to the chamber at the open upper ends of the hollow columns and the lower ends of the hollow columns are adapted to engage a support surface for the still apparatus. The hollow columns also function to contain distilland liquid and to support parabolic solar collectors for heating the liquid to form vapor at the upper end of the hollow columns. The vapor is introduced into the condensation chamber for condensing to form a distillate liquid. Means including a shield and an evaporative surface layer are disclosed to aid the cooling of the condensation chamber relative to the vapor to facilitate the condensation of the vapor in the chamber.

Abstract: A process for recovering an acid chloride from a mixture containing the same, consisting of distilling the acid chloride from the mixture in the presence of an effective quantity of a distillation improvement additive, such as an organo polysiloxane or a mineral oil, which remains substantially liquid under the conditions of distillation.

Abstract: An azeotropic distillation is conducted by feeding a part of an entrainer to the lower region of an azeotropic zone in a distillation column.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from water having solid contaminants dissolved therein. Contaminated water flows across a grid and into a storage tank. The grid utilizes solar energy to heat that water to a predetermined temperature. A heat transfer structure which is dome-shaped and receives water from the storage tank and a preheater means utilizing solar energy heats the water to a further predetermined temperature. An evaporator means receives the heated water and exposes it to a vacuum condition so that the temperature of the water is above the saturation temperature. The water is thus vaporized, and solid contaminants dissolved therein are separated therefrom. The solids are deposited on a plurality of moving belts and are then moved into a solids removal system. The solids removal system comprises a plurality of trap door pairs upon which the solids are deposited and which are sequentially opened so that the vacuum conditions existing in the evaporator are not disturbed.

Abstract: A dirty or otherwise contaminated volatile solvent or other treatment fluid including relatively more volatile non-flammable and relatively less volatile flammable constituents is recovered or reclaimed by boiling it off from its impurities. As the remainder is concentrated, the evaporated vapor becomes increasingly flammable. In a work process, a treatment tank is used for chemically treating work pieces in a volatile treatment fluid which has a liquid phase and a relatively non-flammable heavier-than-air vapor phase. In this process, heat energy is added to the fluid to maintain the upper vapor phase surface at a substantial distance above the upper liquid phase surface in the tank. When the treatment fluid becomes sufficiently contaminated with dirt introduced by the work pieces or otherwise, it must be removed from the tank and replaced with clean treatment fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from water having solid contaminants dissolved therein. Contaminated water flows across a grid and into a storage tank. The grid utilizes solar energy to heat that water to a predetermined temperature. A heat transfer structure which is dome-shaped and receives water from the storage tank and a preheater means utilizing solar energy heats the water to a further predetermined temperature. An evaporator means receives the heated water and exposes it to a vacuum condition so that the temperature of the water is above the saturation temperature. The water is thus vaporized, and solid contaminants dissolved therein are separated therefrom. The solids are deposited on a plurality of moving belts and are then moved into a solids removal system. The solids removal system comprises a plurality of trap door pairs upon which the solids are deposited and which are sequentially opened so that the vacuum conditions existing in the evaporator are not disturbed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from water having solid contaminants dissolved therein. Contaminated water flows across a grid and into a storage tank. The grid utilizes solar energy to heat that water to a predetermined temperature. A heat transfer structure which is dome-shaped and receives water from the storage tank and a preheater means utilizing solar energy heats the water to a further predetermined temperature. An evaporator means receives the heated water and exposes it to a vacuum condition so that the temperature of the water is above the saturation temperature. The water is thus vaporized, and solid contaminants dissolved therein are separated therefrom. The solids are deposited on a plurality of moving belts and are then moved into a solids removal system. The solids removal system comprises a plurality of trap door pairs upon which the solids are deposited and which are sequentially opened so that the vacuum conditions existing in the evaporator are not disturbed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a distillation column for removing vinyl chloride monomer or other volatile material from an emulsion, suspension or dispersion containing such material. The apparatus comprises a column in which a series of inverted cones are mounted. The dispersion or emulsion is pulled downwardly over the cones and steam is fed into the column through sparges and flows upwardly against the descending stream of material. The low boiling materials are distilled out and recovered for reuse. The stripped emulsion or dispersion are collected at the bottom of the column.

Abstract: Phenol-, cyclohexanone-, and cyclohexylbenzene-containing mixtures are extractively distilled to provide an overhead of cyclohexanone substantially free of phenol and cyclohexylbenzene and a bottoms containing phenol and cyclohexylbenzene, substantially free of cyclohexanone by employing a nitrile solvent.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the flow through a distillation apparatus for separating components of a mixture, particularly a dissolved substance, such as an oil, a wax, a polishing agent or alike, from a liquid mixture, particlularly containing a chlorinated solvent, such as tri- or perchlorethylene. According to the present invention, the feeding of new liquid mixture or solution into the boiling vessel of the distillation apparatus is controlled in response to the liquid level in the boiling vessel, whereas the draining of substance-enriched liquid or separated substance from the boiling vessel is controlled in response to the distillation temperature, or to a variable being co-variant therewith, so as to maintain the distillation temperature within predetermined limits and the flow through the apparatus at an optimal, high level.

Abstract: A method for separating benzene, toluene, xylenes and higher aromatics from admixtures containing them is disclosed, said method being based on the use of a solvent which is a 5-atom cyclic derivative of urea in which at least one of the nitrogen atoms is bound to an alkyl.Representative of this class of selective solvents is N,N'-dimethyl ethylene urea.Procedure details and examples are given.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vaporizer for generating developer gas, containing ammonia, from aqueous ammonia for developing diazo copying material comprising a first vaporizer unit including a rectifying column and a column head, a gas outlet for taking off the developer gas and an inlet opening into the column head for feeding in aqueous ammonia, and a heatable, steam-generating sump vessel having a base and a residual water outlet, a second unit including a volatilizer with means for heating a base zone thereof, a residual water inlet opening in said base zone, a residual water line connecting said residual water inlet opening to said residual water outlet of said rectifying column, said residual water outlet of said rectifying column projecting upwardly in said sump vessel and having an orifice above the base thereof, said two units being arranged side by side with parallel axes in a single casing, a first connecting branch as said gas outlet for taking off the developer gas and a second connecting branch

Abstract: A sparged air distilled water recovery system comprising a closed tank having spaced end walls. Passing through one end wall is a conduit that is connected at one end to a source of supply of water under pressure and terminating in a jet nozzle. An overflow drain is mounted in the opposite end wall and maintains substantially constant the level of water in the tank. A closed vapor and air circulating system extends from the end wall having the overflow drain to the end wall in which the jet nozzle is mounted. This system comprises a tube having one end mounted in the end wall with the overflow and which end is open at a level above the water in the tank. Included in this tube is a blower for circulating the mixture of water vapor and air. The other end of this tube then enters a condenser at one end while a second tube extends from the other end of the condenser to the end wall in which the jet nozzle is mounted.

Abstract: Silicate fouling on the reboilers and trays and the distillation train used for the production of dihydric alcohols is arrested by the addition of caustic to the feed stream.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for heat exchange between two liquids without solid matters contained in the liquids. The apparatus comprises a pressure vessel which is divided into a plurality of compartments, each compartment comprising an inner space having an open end and an outer annular space. A baffle having a closed upper end is provided around the upper portion of each inner space with an annular slit between the baffle and the wall of the inner space. The baffle extends to a level below the upper end of the inner space. Injection nozzles for the heat-receiving liquid are provided in the upper portion of the outer space of each compartment, and an outlet pipe is connected to the lower end of the outer space. Inlet and outlet pipes for the heat-delivering liquid are connected to the upper and lower ends respectively of the inner space.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from water having solid contaminants dissolved therein. Contaminated water flows across a grid and into a storage tank. The grid utilizes solar energy to heat that water to a predetermined temperature. A heat transfer structure which is dome-shaped and receives water from the storage tank and a preheater means utilizing solar energy heats the water to a further predetermined temperature. An evaporator means receives the heated water and exposes it to a vacuum condition so that the temperature of the water is above the saturation temperature. The water is thus vaporized, and solid contaminants dissolved therein are separated therefrom. The solids are deposited on a plurality of moving belts and are then moved into a solids removal system. The solids removal system comprises a plurality of trap door pairs upon which the solids are deposited and which are sequentially opened so that the vacuum conditions existing in the evaporator are not disturbed.