Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a processing device includes a heated internal wall and a rotating rod positioned within an interior space formed by the heated internal wall. The rotating rod may be hollow and act as an internal heat exchanger. The processing device also includes a plurality of baffles spaced apart from one another along the rotating rod and extending away from the rotating rod towards the heated internal wall. The plurality of baffles or porous, packed basket that rotates with the rotating rod that also may be configured to provide cooling relative to the heated internal wall. The processing device also includes at least one wiper or roller coupled to an edge of at least one of the plurality of baffles or porous, packed basket, coupled to the rotating rod and that contacts the heated internal wall while rotating together with the rotating rod. In another embodiment, a processing device may be used to adsorb reactive gases into a liquid phase while heat is exchanged.

Abstract: Volatile siloxanes, particularly those of a cyclic nature, are removed from high viscosity silicone polymers and high viscosity silicone compositions by evaporation in a short path evaporator.

Abstract: A short path evaporator including a heatable double-walled evaporator pipe having an inner interspace, with a rotatable rotor system disposed within the evaporator pipe and with a condenser disposed centrally in the evaporator pipe, and with an inlet for a product leading into the evaporator pipe, an outlet for a concentrate of the product leading out of the evaporator pipe, and an outlet for distillate accumulating at the condenser, and an inlet and an outlet for supplying and discharging heating medium to or from the interspace of the evaporator pipe, wherein the evaporator pipe is formed by an outer pipe and an inner pipe which, leaving the interspace, is disposed within the outer pipe, which are fixed at their ends in a sealing manner between two flange plates clamped together, wherein an inlet channel for the inlet of the product and an outlet channel for the outlet of the concentrate, which communicate with the interior of the inner pipe, are formed in the flange plates, as well as inlet and outlet chan

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of devolatilization, and discloses a polylactic acid devolatilization evaporator, which comprises: a container comprising a cylinder; an agitating shaft coaxial with the cylinder; an agitating belt connected to the agitating shaft and arranged in a spiral shape around the central axis of the cylinder, comprising an outer belt surface facing the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and spaced apart from the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder. With the above technical scheme, the agitating belt makes the materials distributed more uniformly on the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder and form a thin layer in uniform thickness, thereby avoids agglomeration of the materials, facilitates uniform heating of the materials, avoids deterioration (e.g., darkened color) of the materials owing to non-uniform heating of the materials and excessive retention time in a high-temperature environment, and improves product quality.

Abstract: A housing having a heatable housing jacket, which surrounds a treatment chamber and forms a rotationally symmetrical treatment surface extending in the axial direction, and a drivable rotor, arranged in the treatment chamber and extending coaxially, for producing a material film on the treatment surface. The rotor comprises a hollow shaft, arranged in a manner distributed over the circumference of which are spreading elements. The hollow shaft surrounds a condensation space, in which a condenser is arranged. At least some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements, which impart a transporting component to the material in the direction from the material inlet to the material outlet. Some of the spreading elements are configured as transport elements and some as distributing elements, which project from the hollow shaft and which comprise teeth, the shearing edge of which encloses an angle of less than 45° relative to the axial direction.

Abstract: A method for separating a mixture of materials A and B by extractive distillation, using an extraction medium having a higher affinity to B than to A, collecting a liquid fraction on a collecting tray and heated and partially evaporated in a first indirect heat exchanger, collecting the resultant vapor is released into the column and a non-evaporated proportion of the liquid fraction in the sump of the column, and a series of heating, separation and cooling where partially cooled extraction medium fraction is used as heating medium for a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A process for catalytically converting crude tall oil into hydrocarbons suitable as biofuel components. The crude tall oil is treated in a reactor system including a catalytically active guard bed phase and a catalytically active main reaction phase. At least one of the phases includes a catalyst bed with a combination of hydrodeoxygenating (HDO) and hydrodewaxing (HDW) catalysts. The process provides biofuel with acceptable ignition and cold flow properties.

Abstract: A process for pre-treatment of a crude tall oil (CTO) for removal of impurities is disclosed. The process comprises a first pre-treatment step involving a CTO wash and a separation of a first oil phase comprising refined CTO and an aqueous phase holding impurities, and a second step involving a separation of a second oil phase from the aqueous phase. A process for refining of crude tall oil (CTO) is also disclosed. The process comprises fractionation under vacuum of a refined CTO into at least one stream of refined tall diesel (RTD) or tall oil fatty acids (TOFA) and at least one stream of resin acid(s) (RA). The stream of RTD or TOFA is deoxygenated forming hydrocarbon compounds in a subsequent step. This invention also relates to a refined tall diesel. Furthermore, a process for the production of a refined tall diesel (RTD) composition, wherein crude sulphate turpentine(s) (CST) is added to the refined tall diesel (RTD) composition, is described.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and related devices and systems for the conversion of higher hydrocarbons, such as in the form of waste plastics, petroleum sludge, slope oil, vegetable oil, and so forth, into lower hydrocarbons, which can be used as fuels or raw materials for a variety of industrial and domestic uses.

Abstract: A vertical centrifugal thin film evaporator is equipped with: a cylindrical body in which an central axis of a circle is set in a vertical direction; a rotor that rotates an interior of the cylindrical body in a circumferential direction thereof; a wiper that slides on an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical body; a fixing support that fixes the wiper and is mounted on the rotor; and a heater that heats a circumferential surface of the cylindrical body. A liquid-withdrawing structure that communicates between a space surrounded by the wiper and the fixing support and a space outside the wiper and the fixing support is formed on at least one of the wiper and the fixing support, thereby preventing a liquid to be processed from being retained between the wiper and the fixing support.

Abstract: A distiller including an evaporator having at least one evaporation surface for evaporating liquid into vapor. At least one movable liquid applicator assembly has a wiper applicator which can move over the at least one evaporation surface, for wiping and applying a thin even film of the liquid on the at least one evaporation surface for evaporation.

Abstract: A glycerol preparation method for preparation of medical grade glycerol from a by-product of a bio-diesel process includes a first stage phosphoric acid chemical reaction process and a posterior by-product centrifugal separation process to have the phosphoric acid chemical reaction by-product be separated into free fatty acid, potassium phosphoric acid, and a crude glycerol and methanol mixture. The crude glycerol and methanol mixture is further processed through a first step of thin film evaporation process where methanol is reclaimed, a second step of thin film evaporation process where the mixture is dehydrated, a third step of molecular distillation process where an industrial grade glycerol of purity over 95% is extracted, and a fourth step of molecular distillation process where a medical grade glycerol of purity in exceed of 99.75% that meets USP/BP standards is extracted.

Abstract: A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the purification of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C., which further has approximately 275 g carboxylate ions/l or less, preferably 250 g carboxylate ions/l or less, and preferably less than 1% by weight ionic impurities, calculated on the basis of the total solution. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous purification and concentration, on an industrial scale, of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C. According to the method, this solution is subjected to two or more distillation steps, the first distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 150° C. and a pressure of from 50 to 250 mbar, and the second distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 200° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 50 mbar.

Abstract: Coating material is fed into a vacuum container inside which are apparatus for separating gas from the coating material. The degassing apparatus (10) has two separate compartments (11, 12) so that degassing is carried out in two different stages by using a single apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the purification of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C., which-further has approximately 275 g carboxylate ions/1 or less, preferably 250 g carboxylate ions/1 or less, and preferably less than 1% by weight ionic impurities, calculated on the basis of the total solution. In particular, the invention relates to a method and a device for the continuous purification and concentration, on an industrial scale, of an aqueous solution of an organic acid having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than 450° C. According to the method, this solution is subjected to two or more distillation steps, the first distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 150° C. and a pressure of from 50 to 250 mbar, and the second distillation step being carried out at a temperature of from 80° to 200° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 50 mbar.

Abstract: A thin-film evaporator with a vertical drum (1), a supply line (4) that is arranged in the upper region of the drum (1) and is used to supply a medium to be evaporated, a heating jacket (3) arranged on the periphery of the drum and forming vapors, a discharge line (20) for discharging the residue left in the lower end of the drum, and a condenser (11) supplied with a coolant, for increasing the separating capacity and optionally for performing chemical reactions, is characterized in that an inner device (24) influencing the action of the thin-film evaporator is provided in the path of the vapors from the heating jacket (3) to the condenser (11).

Abstract: A mobile waste processing system and method is disclosed for processing materials in a tank, typically an underground storage tank. A mobile fluid processing module is disposed adjacent to or over the tank, and sealingly connected to the tank through a tank riser. Support equipment, which may include an electric power module, a chiller module, a heating module, and a control and monitor module, are disposed a distance from the processing module, and connected thereto. A pump and optionally a dispersal nozzle are deployed from the processing module into the tank, and effluent is extracted for processing. The processing trailer includes effluent processing equipment such as an evaporator and demister, condenser, vacuum pump, and interim storage tank. The effluent is processed, and at least a portion is removed. Some of the processed effluent may be returned to the tank.

Abstract: A method for purifying a crude (meth)acrylic acid obtained by a vapor phase catalytic oxidation method, characterized in that the crude (meth)acrylic acid having most parts of water and acetic acid removed therefrom, is fed to and distilled in a first distillation column of a purification system comprising first to third three distillation columns, the top fraction from the first distillation column is fed to and distilled in the second distillation column, the resulting top fraction is recovered as a high purity (meth)acrylic acid product, the bottoms from the first and second distillation columns are fed to and distilled in the third distillation column, and the resulting top fraction is fed to the first distillation column.

Abstract: A process to isolate dianhydride from an exchange reaction comprises extracting a bisimide/anhydride exchange reaction aqueous phase with an organic solution comprising an exchange catalyst at a first temperature and pressure to form an extracted aqueous phase comprising water, exchange catalyst and a dianhydride precursor; removing water from the extracted aqueous phase at a second temperature and pressure to form a molten phase, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure; removing water and exchange catalyst from the molten phase at a third temperature and pressure to form an isolation mixture; and converting the dianhydride precursor in the isolation mixture to dianhydride at a fourth temperature and pressure, wherein the fourth temperature is greater than the second and third temperatures and the fourth pressure is less than the second and third pressures.

Abstract: An integrated method for producing aromatic polycarbonate, including the steps of: (1) making a liquid mixture of acetone and diphenylcarbonate; (2) transporting the liquid mixture of step (1) to a polycarbonate production plant; (3) separating the diphenylcarbonate from the acetone in the liquid mixture in the polycarbonate production plant; (4) reacting the diphenylcarbonate with bisphenolacetone to produce polycarbonate, thereby liberating phenol; (5) reacting phenol of step (4) with acetone of step (3) to produce bisphenolacetone; (6) using bisphenolacetone of step (5) in the reaction of step (4).

Abstract: A method of removing substantially all solvent from a solution containing a polyphenylene ether polymer resin with little by-product formation (less than 250 ppm) is provided. The method employs a wiped thin film evaporator with a cylindrical heating chamber operating under conditions that satisfy the relationships defined by Equations I and II. 5.3*1024RL? exp(?24123/T)/m<C??I 100?(4960AP/Tm)<C??II; Yields are maximized wherein values for feed rate (m) and percent solids (C) are selected to provide a maximum value for the output, Q, determined from the equation m*C=Q and the melt viscosity of the polyphenylene ether product is less than 50,000 centipoise at the operating temperature of the cylindrical heating chamber.

Abstract: A process to isolate dianhydride from an exchange reaction comprises extracting a bisimide/anhydride exchange reaction aqueous phase with an organic solution comprising an exchange catalyst at a first temperature and pressure to form an extracted aqueous phase comprising water, exchange catalyst and a dianhydride precursor; removing water from the extracted aqueous phase at a second temperature and pressure to form a molten phase, wherein the second pressure is less than the first pressure; removing water and exchange catalyst from the molten phase at a third temperature and pressure to form an isolation mixture; and converting the dianhydride precursor in the isolation mixture to dianhydride at a fourth temperature and pressure, wherein the fourth temperature is greater than the second and third temperatures and the fourth pressure is less than the second and third pressures.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing an easily polymerizable substance from being polymerized in a thin-film type evaporating device by supplying a solution of the substance to the evaporating heating surface of the device by the centrifugal force of a stirring rotary shaft, characterized by mixing a distilled vapor of the substance with a molecular oxygen-containing gas and supplying the extracted liquid or a solution having lower viscosity than the extracted liquid to a feed raw material inlet thereby adjusting the quantity of a wetting liquid per unit length of the surface in the range of 0.02-2 m3/mHr. In the evaporation of the substance by the use of the device, a method for preventing the substance from polymerization is provided.

Abstract: A method of removing substantially all solvent from a solution containing a polyphenylene ether polymer resin with little by-product formation (less than 250 ppm) is provided. The method employs a wiped thin film evaporator with a cylindrical heating chamber operating under conditions that satisfy the relationships defined by Equations I and II.

Abstract: A process of evaporating a viscous polymer solution is described. The process includes: (a) providing a viscous polymer solution including at least 30 wt. % of solvents and monomers; (b) introducing the viscous polymer solution into a heated helix (5), the heated helix having a vapor exit velocity of 200 to 300 m/s, (a film flow including a two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors being formed within the helix); (c) forwarding the film flow from helix (5) into a heated vapor separator (6); (d) expanding the two-phase mixture of polymer melt, and solvent vapors and monomer vapors of the film flow within vapor separator (6) at an absolute pressure of 10 mbar to 800 mbar, (a bottom product including a concentrated melt of the polymer is formed within the vapor separator); and (e) withdrawing the bottom product from vapor separator (6).

Abstract: A thin film distiller is provided which applies distilland to an evaporative side by the use of wicks which work by capillary action. The evaporated vapor is transferred to the condensate side after being compressed to a higher pressure where it is condensed and removed by similar wicks. The condensing and evaporating surfaces are formed on opposing sides of a bellows-like sheet of heat conducting material. The sheet would preferably be formed into a cylindrical shape with the evaporative stage on the outside and the condensing stage on the inside of the cylinder. Either the wicks or the heat conducting material are moved with respect to the other such that the wicks place a thin film of distilland on the evaporative surface. Removal of condensate is performed in a similar manner by the wicks in the condensate stage.

Abstract: An evaporation product discharged from a lower end a falling-film evaporator (1, 2) enters a downpipe (7), makes a 180° turn at a bottom of the downpipe, and moves upward through an annular rising channel (9) defined between the downpipe and an intermediate housing (10). As the evaporation product moves along a spiral path (12) defined by the spiral fins, centrifugal forces urges water droplets and impurities to a radial outward periphery where they pass through openings (13) in the intermediate shell as pure steam continues through the spiral path and out a pure steam outlet (21). A cooling jacket (15) chills a peripheral wall of an outer shell (14) adjacent the holes such that the discharged water droplets condense on the outer shell and flow down a reject water return path to a reject water reservoir at the bottom of the outer shell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing and isolating glycols and to a thin-film evaporator which is used in carrying out the process.