Abstract: An integral system and method for the separation and purification in a single operation of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which system can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction. The system includes a pre-evaporator, a vapor-liquid separator, a packed bed distillation column, a rotary thin film evaporator and an evaporator-stripper.

Abstract: A method for the separation and purification in a single pass of a heat or oxygen-sensitive liquid feed, such as a plant derived liquid feed mixture of fatty acids, tocopherol compounds and sterols, into a low boiling point purified fraction of Vitamin E tocopherol compounds and a high boiling point concentrate fraction of triglycerides, which method can be maintained in the presence of an inert gas to provide reduced degradation and increased purity of the Vitamin E fraction.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction method and apparatus, which method comprises sequentially pulsing the light and heavy phases and controlling the operation of the valves which introduce into and withdraw from the column the liquid phases, based on the percent of phase-volume changes occurring in the liquid-liquid extraction in the column.

Abstract: A liquid-liquid extraction apparatus, which apparatus comprises a liquid-liquid extraction column with timing controls for sequentially pulsing the light and heavy phases and controlling the operation of the valves which introduce into the withdraw from the column the liquid phases, based on the percent of phase-volume changes occurring in the liquid-liquid extraction in the column.

Abstract: A process for the direct preparation of a gasohol from a low-content, water-alcohol solution of a fermentation broth, which solution contains ethanol or methanol, which process comprises mixing a low-volume alcohol solution, a solvent miscible in the alcohol and in the gasoline and a gasoline; discarding essentially alcohol-free water and recovering a gasohol composition of about 8% to 15% by volume of combined alcohol and solvent; removing water of saturation from the gasohol; and recovering substantially anhydrous gasohol.

Abstract: A thin-film wiped evaporator with rotary blades having a helical twist, the twist of the blades increasing from the one to the other end so as to provide a maximum twist at the one or the other end of the evaporator.

Abstract: An improved thin-film rotary evaporator wherein a meshtype deentrainment material having a large amount of free space is secured in the vapor chamber to the rotor shaft for rotation therewith to entrain particles from the vapor phase without a large pressure drop.