Abstract: An improved method of and apparatus for reconcentrating a liquid absorbent in an absorption system which method includes the steps of heating the rich liquid absorbent in a heating zone to vaporize a portion of the solute therefrom, flashing the partially reconcentrated absorbent into a flash separator and separating the lean liquid absorbent from the flashed vapors in the flash separator with the lean liquid absorbent being recycled to the absorption system and with the separated vapors being cooled to condense liquids and returning the stream of condensed liquids and vapors to the heating zone.

Abstract: A liquid desiccant regenerator is provided including an upstanding hollow reboiler having upstanding peripheral sides, a bottom and a top. A plurality of laterally space upstanding tubular flues are provided in the reboiler and open upwardly and downwardly through the top and bottom. A flue plenum chamber is disposed over the top into which the upper ends of the tubular flues open and a flue pipe opens upwardly from the plenum chamber. A combustion chamber is disposed below the bottom including low pressure gas burner structure therein and into which the lower ends of the flues open. An upper portion of the reboiler includes a lateral extension and a still column is supported from the lateral extension and is positioned relative thereto for regenerated liquid desiccant drainage from the lower end of the column into the lateral extension.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight alcohols, especially ethanol, from aqueous mixtures. The process involves subjecting alcohol-water mixtures to extraction and/or extractive distillation procedures. Extractive solvents useful for the process of this invention include phenols having at least six carbon atoms and a boiling point between about 180.degree. C. and about 350.degree. C.

Abstract: The present invention makes use of spent or loaded process liquid at relatively high pressure to power a pump for recirculation of regenerated process liquid for gas contact in a relatively high pressure gas-liquid contact apparatus. In this manner, the power fluid used for recirculation supplies about 65% of the pumping energy requirements and the remaining 35% of the needed pumping energy is supplied by an externally powered pump, such as an electric motor-driven or engine powered pump. In accordance with the present invention, the power end of the fluid-power pump is flooded with liquid at all times so that no free gas is used. The extra volume of liquid used for pumping is regenerated and pumped back to the contactor by an externally powered pump, for example, a plunger-type, electrically-driven or engine-driven pump.

Abstract: Excess water and color-forming materials present in crude 1,4-butanediol are reduced by subjecting the crude 1,4-butanediol to distillation under conditions wherein substantially all the water present in the crude 1,4-butanediol is first removed and then the 1,4-butanediol with reduced water content is further refined by flash evaporation under vacuum.

Abstract: A process for the separation of a dissolved solid from an aqueous solution containing it, comprising the steps of (a) adding thereto an organic liquid which is a poor solvent for the dissolved solid and which forms an azeotrope with water, (b) subjecting the mixture to azeotropic distillation to separate at least a major portion of the water, (c) cooling the mixture thereby causing substantially complete separation of the dissolved solids, and (d) separating same from the mother liquor.

Abstract: A novel composition, and extraction process for the dehydration of a hydrated aliphatic, monohydric alcohol to produce a fuel grade alcohol. A select group of alkali-metal and alkaline-earth metal salts are added to and dissolved within a low volatility polyhydric alcohol to form a solution, or solvent extractant, and said solvent extractant contacted and dissolved within said aliphatic, monohydric hydrated alcohol, the solvent extractant distilled, condensed, and a dehydrated fuel grade aliphatic monohydric fuel grade alcohol recovered.

Abstract: Alcohol substantially free of water is produced by a process comprising extracting an aqueous alcohol solution with an organic solvent system containing an extractant for said alcohol thereby forming an organic solvent-alcohol phase and an aqueous phase, and vacuum distilling said organic solvent-alcohol phase thereby obtaining the product alcohol substantially free of water.

Abstract: Volatile reactants are heated under reflux in a reactor and form volatile reaction by-products which are continuously removed in a vapor effluent from a reflux column and partial condenser. The effluent, which entrains some of the reactants, is condensed in a first total condenser and is fed to a distillation apparatus for separation of the volatile reactants and by-products and return of the separated reactants to the reactor. Before the condensate reaches the distillation apparatus, it is temporarily stored in a receiver from which it is controllably fed to a pre-heater where it is evaporated and then fed as a vapor to the distillation column of the distillation apparatus for separation. The distillation column includes at one end a reboiler which retains the reactants. The other end of the distillation column is coupled to a second total condenser in which the volatile by-products are condensed and withdrawn through a cooler for disposal.

Abstract: A process permitting hazard free purification by distillation of compounds which are distillable per se but which present the risk of explosive decomposition under the effect of elevated temperatures. A desensitizing substance is added to the compounds to be distilled.Aliphatic alcohols for instance are suitable additives for alkinols.Examples are provided for the distillation of butinediol-1,4 together with the additive glycerin.

Abstract: Distillation method and apparatus for separation of alcohol from an alcohol-water mixture are disclosed which include use of a fluid-tight vacuum tank within which a surface condenser is located adjacent the tank bottom. The condenser has a vapor inlet above the condenser, and a condenser outlet which communicates with a first pump having a pump discharge outside the tank. A second pump is provided for removal of mixture from the bottom of the tank. In operation, an alcohol-water mixture is fed into the tank to completely fill the same while air is vented therefrom. The vent is closed, and mixture then is pumped from the tank and condenser to empty the condenser and to lower the level of mixture in the tank beneath the vapor inlet to the condenser. With the removal of mixture, a vacuum is created whereupon alcohol rapidly evaporates from the mixture surface to rapidly reduce the temperature of remaining mixture.

Abstract: Process for dehydrating aliphatic alcohols admixed with water wherein the alcohols-water mixture is subjected to a first fractionation in the presence of a selective solvent, giving a vapor effluent containing dehydrated light alcohols and a liquid phase containing heavy alcohols, water and the selective solvent, said liquid phase being subjected to a second fractionation giving as vapor effluent an hetero-azeotropic mixture of water and heavy alcohols and, as liquid effluent, the selective solvent, which is fed back, said hetero-azeotropic mixture being condensed and separated into:(a) a light phase of high alcohol content which is subjected to a third fractionation giving a vapor effluent which is fed back and dehydrated heavy alcohols as liquid effluent, and(b) a heavy phase which is subjected to a fourth fractionation giving a vapor effluent which is fed back and water as liquid effluent.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for extracting an organic liquid from an organic liquid solute/solvent mixture. The mixture is contacted with a fluid extractant which is at a temperature and pressure to render the extractant a solvent for the solute but not for the solvent. The resulting fluid extract of the solute is then depressurized to give a still feed which is distilled to form still overhead vapors and liquid still bottoms. The enthalpy required to effect this distillation is provided by compressing the still overhead vapors to heat them and indirectly to heat the still feed. The process is particularly suitable for separating mixtures which form azeotropes, e.g., oxygenated hydrocarbon/water mixtures. The energy required in this process is much less than that required to separate such mixtures by conventional distillation techniques.

Abstract: An improved condenser for distillation purposes which is particularly suited for use in distilling alcohol. The condenser is in the form of a cylinder, open at its ends, and formed of a double jacket wall of spaced concentric cylindrical sheets, preferably of copper or aluminum metal. The jacket interior is joined at an upper end to an inlet pipe fitting that may be coupled to tube leading from a mash cooker unit. A drain tube for the distilled alcohol-water mixture extends from the bottom end of the jacket interior. A plurality of spaced legs extend from the periphery of the lower open end of the cylinder so that in use the condenser is mounted with its central axis extending on a vertical line, and with the open cylinder and located above the surface to which the cylinder legs rest or are fixed.

Abstract: A method of removing water from a mixture of glycol and water comprises introducing a feed mixture of glycol and water to a distillation column, and collecting a first concentrated glycol-water liquid as still bottoms. The first concentrated liquid is then conveyed to a reboiler where a portion of that liquid is vaporized to form a reboiler vapor and a second concentrated glycol-water liquid. The reboiler vapor is returned to the still for intimate contact with the feed mixture of glycol and water in the distillation column. The second concentrated liquid is then conveyed to a water exhauster at a temperature and pressure such that an equilibrium vapor of said second concentrated liquid, at said conditions, has a glycol/water weight ratio of at least 0.54. At this condition, a portion of the second concentrated glycol-water liquid is vaporized in the water exhauster to form a third concentrated glycol-water liquid and an equilibrium vapor in contact with the third concentrated liquid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for purifying or reclaiming liquid desiccant comprising heating a water rich desiccant to form dilute desiccant vapor; partially condensing said vapor to produce a purified desiccant equal in strength to the feed stream, reintroducing a first stream of said vapor by sparging into the means of heating said desiccant and cooling a second stream of said vapor thereby refluxing condensible desiccant and venting non-condensible gases, and recovering condensed vapor for use elsewhere.

Abstract: Reconcentration of moist glycol, which has been used to dry natural gas, by heating the moist glycol with flue gas from a reboiler and by thereafter stripping water from the moist glycol with the dried flue gas or with a hydrocarbon gas by-product of the natural gas being dried.

Abstract: Reconcentration of moist glycol, which has been used to dry natural gas, by heating the moist glycol with flue gas from a reboiler and by thereafter stripping water from the moist glycol with the dried flue gas or with a hydrocarbon gas by-product of the natural gas being dried.

Abstract: Isobutane is oxidized to provide a debutanized oxidate comprising tertiary butyl alcohol, acetone, water and other byproducts including high boiling products. Water is removed by extractive distillation using a combination of water and xylene as the extractant. The molar amount of recycled water is greater than the amount of water to be removed from the oxidate. By thus recirculating water through the decantation zone the acetone is satisfactorily coextracted from the butyl alcohol in such a manner that a stream of acetone and a stream of water, as well as the desired dry stream of tertiary butyl alcohol can be withdrawn. If the water is not recycled, the acetone will concentrate in the upper section of the distillation zone and reduce the volatility of water, thereby inhibiting the water removal from the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is recovered from spent glycol containing impurities, such as dimethyl terephthalate, by subjecting the spent glycol to a sequential flash evaporation-distillation or distillation-flash evaporation-distillation procedure. Dimethyl terephthalate impurities are rendered non-volatile by the addition of a small amount of alkali metal hydroxide prior to flash evaporation. Dewatering of spent glycol and separation of ethylene glycol from impurities rendered non-volatile by alkali metal hydroxide is also performed in one or two distillation steps. Sufficient ethylene glycol is recovered to make use of flash evaporation an optional step.

Abstract: Esters are treated with alkali metal borohydride to produce alcohols. Substantially constant boiling admixtures of: methanol/methyl heptafluorobutyrate, water/1,1-dihydroheptafluorobutanol, and water/methyl heptafluorobutyrate are described.

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: Water-containing glycol is heated first at atmospheric or superatmospheric pressure to partially remove water and concentrate the glycol and is then heated at subatmospheric pressure to further concentrate the glycol.

Abstract: A reboiler for dehydrating di- or tri- ethylene glycol comprises a cylindrical, horizontal axis tank having a ceramic packed still column rising from its top near one end and a single U shaped fire tube extending longitudinally from the front end of the tank interiorly thereof toward its back end. Wet glycol is admitted to the base of the still column above a half tray and overflows into a catch pipe which drains into the front end of the tank. Dry glycol is taken off through an outlet at the bottom rear of the tank. Dry gas is admitted to the reboiler through a sparging pipe extending longitudinally of the tank from near the back end of the fire tube and then over the outlet to near the back end of the tank. A box shaped trough extending under and about the pipe separates the glycol adjacent the sparging pipe from an in-tank reservoir located below the pipe formed by a divider plate located near the front end of the pipe.

Abstract: A cooling method and system are provided wherein a stream of relatively wet warm air is passed in contact with a liquid hygroscopic material in a water cooled absorbent zone to produce a stream of relatively cool dry air. The latter is then passed through an evaporative cooling zone in contact with water and the resulting cooled air or water is used as a cooling or refrigerating medium. A portion of the cooled water is used to cool the absorbent zone to an extent that the dried stream of air has a greater capacity to evaporatively cool the water than it would have in the absence of such cooling, thereby permitting the production of desired stream of cool, dry air.

Abstract: An accumulator vessel is divided into two compartments by an overflow baffle divider and is used in combination with two fractionators. Overhead product from a first fractionator is passed into the first compartment of the accumulator. Liquids from the first compartment pass to the second fractionator as feed. Bottoms product from the second fractionator then passes to the second accumulator compartment from which it is passed as preferred reflux for the first fractionator.

Abstract: A method for separating two liquid components from a mixture by distilling the mixture in the presence of a third liquid which is immiscible at least with the component having the higher boiling point with the third liquid having a boiling range from at least the boiling point of the lower boiling component up to the boiling point of the higher boiling component. In a preferred embodiment the liquid mixture components are glycol and water and the third liquid is a naphtha fraction having a boiling range from about 212.degree. F. (100.degree. C.) to about 410.degree. F. (210.degree. C.).

Abstract: A unique combination of specially chosen entrainers, e.g., pentanes and cyclohexane, and high-pressure azeotropic distillation conditions, e.g., 100-200 psig., provides an economically efficient separation of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.5 alkyl alcohol, e.g., isopropanol, from its aqueous mixture; and also results in the production of a useable steam having a sufficient pressure, e.g., from 10 psig. to 30 psig. Preferably, said azeotropic distillation is conducted in the substantial absence of oxygen, e.g., less than 1 wppm.

Abstract: Antifreeze agents such as methanol used in treating hydrocarbon-containing streams to prevent the formation of hydrates and ice are recovered in a combination process comprising extraction, fractionation, and stripping together with a common reboiler system for the fractionation and stripping. One process comprises a combination of solvent extracting methanol with water, fractionation of the water-methanol extract to separate methanol overhead, further treatment of the fractionation bottoms by stripping to remove residual methanol overhead which is returned to the fractionation zone, and recycling at least a portion of the fractionation bottoms as solvent to the initial extraction step.

Abstract: Impure methanol containing ethanol is substantially freed of ethanol by distilling a mixture consisting essentially of the impure methanol, ethanol and water with the aid of a distillation column in a region of which the methanol to water ratio is maintained substantially constant, and withdrawing a stream enriched in ethanol from a point near one end of that region.

Abstract: Improved process and apparatus for drying oxygen-containing streams, particularly wet air streams, are provided wherein these streams are contacted with glycols. The regeneration of glycols and in particular the removal of oxygen from the glycols is effected in a first step at a temperature below the oxidation temperature of the glycols, and then the removal of water from the glycols is effected in a second step, preferably by heating the wet glycols.

Abstract: Separation by distillation and formation of immiscible liquid phases of nearly equal densities which comprises distilling a mixture containing the same in the presence of an added liquid of substantially different density, preferentially soluble in a recycle to the distillation zone and having a volatility under conditions of distillation such that it will vaporize preferentially to a liquid desired to be retained in the distillation zone to be removed as bottoms therefrom, e.g., toluene added to produce gravity separation of a heavy water-rich phase and a light phase containing phenol, cyclohexanone and cyclohexylbenzene and the added toluene which is used as reflux to the drying column in the overall process in which cyclohexanone and phenol are produced from cyclohexylbenzene.

Abstract: The method of the invention consists in conveying a concentrated aqueous solution of a substance less volatile than water and miscible with the latter into the upper portion of a liquid-vapor exchange column operating at atmospheric pressure and supplied with saturated water vapor at its lower portion, in collecting a dilute aqueous solution of said substance in the lower portion of said column and vapor rich in said substance and sparingly rich in water, at a temperature comprised between about 110.degree. and 150.degree. C, in the upper portion of the said column, said column also alternately functioning to dehydrate, and thereby regenerate said dilute aqueous solution to thereby produce said concentrated aqueous solution.

Abstract: Pure C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkanols are prepared from crude water containing alcohols in a continuous distillation process which includes an extractive distillation zone into which water and crude alcohols are introduced and from which is removed an impurities stream and a dilute aqueous alcohol stream; an alcohol concentration zone into which is introduced a dilute alcohol stream from the extractive distillation zone from which is withdrawn pure concentrated alcohols, a low boiling impurities stream and a high boiling impurities stream; and an impurities concentration zone into which is introduced the impurities stream from the extractive distillation zone and the high and low boiling impurities streams from the alcohol concentration zone from which is withdrawn high and low boiling impurities and an alcohol containing stream which is recycled to the extractive distillation zone with the crude alcohols.

Abstract: A water-free mixture of isopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl alcohol, diisopropyl ether and by-products is made by the catalytic hydration of propylene in the gaseous phase at temperatures of 140.degree.-170.degree.C under pressures of 25-40 atmospheres gauge. A water-to-propylene molar ratio of 0.1 to 0.25:1 is maintained in the hydration reaction. The crude product from the hydration reaction is dehydrated or dewatered in two columns without using a foreign withdrawing agent. Instead, diiosopropyl ether formed in the process itself is utilized as the withdrawing agent which is subsequently added to the water-free mixture together with additionally formed by-products. The water-free mixture formed according to the process can be used directly as an additive to gasoline fuel for motor vehicles.