Utilizing Solid Sorbent Patents (Class 203/41)
  • Patent number: 4306943
    Abstract: Crude liquid polyether-polyols containing an alkaline catalyst are purified by the steps of:neutralizing said crude liquid polyether-polyol with a mineral acid having a dissociation constant of greater than 10.sup.-3 at 25.degree. C.distilling off water from said liquid, and filtering the same. The improvement resides in the step of adding a hydrate of a metal salt of said mineral acid to the liquid polyether-polyol at a stage before the distillation step for promoting the crystal growth of a salt formed from said alkaline catalyst by the neutralization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Dai-Ichi Kogyo Seiyaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Mori, Takeshi Fujita
  • Patent number: 4273621
    Abstract: Process for dehydrating aqueous ethanol, utilizing a high-pressure distillation (with a single distillation column) of an aqueous ethanol admixture (preferably one derived from a conventional ethanol fermentation process), to achieve a vapor phase ethanol-water admixture containing about 90 percent, by weight, of ethanol, and then drying the vaporous admixture, in the presence of CO.sub.2, with a crystalline zeolite type 3A, utilizing the "pressure energy" derived from the distillation to allow the product ethanol to condense at ambient temperatures, and then, if desired, employing the resultant dried ethanol product in the production of gasohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: The Lummus Company
    Inventor: Louis L. Fornoff
  • Patent number: 4260827
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process for the purification of aqueous solutions of low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds containing calcium or lead compounds or mixtures thereof. Methanol and a precipitant for calcium and/or lead ions in a quantity equivalent to the ions to be removed are added to the solutions. The deposits thus formed are removed and the residual solutions are treated with a cation exchanger followed by distillation of the low-boiling fractions. The distillation sump which essentially contains the low molecular weight polyhydroxyl compounds is then treated with an anion exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Kurt Klinkmann, Raimund Wambach
  • Patent number: 4257914
    Abstract: In a process for regenerating spent molten zinc chloride which has been used in the hydrocracking of coal or ash-containing polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbonaceous materials derived therefrom and which contains zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc oxide complexes and ash-containing carbonaceous residue, by incinerating the spent molten zinc chloride to vaporize the zinc chloride for subsequent condensation to produce a purified molten zinc chloride: an improvement comprising the use of clay in the incineration zone to suppress the vaporization of metals other than zinc. Optionally water is used in conjunction with the clay to further suppress the vaporization of metals other than zinc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignees: Conoco, Inc., The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Clyde W. Zielke, William A. Rosenhoover
  • Patent number: 4247371
    Abstract: Water containing dissolved compounds is preheated, and is then pressurized in stages of water pressure, while receiving a quantum of steam. Scale-forming compounds in the water are thermally precipitated, and clarified post-thermal water is formed. This is flash vaporized in stages corresponding to the stages of water pressure, and the flashed vapors are compressed to form each said quantum of steam. Alternately, the flashed vapors themselves comprise each said quantum of steam, by being induced into the water as it flows through an eductor means. Flash-cooled, post-thermal water, substantially devoid of scale-forming compounds, is employed as such, or more generally is evaporated to form fresh water and an end concentrate of dissolved compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1981
    Inventor: Paul S. Roller
  • Patent number: 4238294
    Abstract: A process for recovering heavy metal ions or heavy metal ions and halogen values from a solution comprising a lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, which comprises the steps of:(1) contacting a lower aliphatic carboxylic acid solution containing heavy metal ions or heavy metal ions and halogen values with an anion exchange resin, at least 60% of the ion-exchange groups of said anion exchange resin being in the bromide or chloride state, while the water concentration in the lower aliphatic monocarboxylic acid solution has been adjusted to a level lower than 20% by weight, thereby to adsorb the heavy metal ions or the heavy metal ions and the halogen values on the anion exchange resin; and(2) desorbing the adsorbed heavy metal ions or the adsorbed heavy metal ions and the adsorbed halogen values from the anion exchange resin by elution with an eluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takeuchi, Tetsuya Miyake, Masatoshi Tanouchi, Tatsushi Saeki, Kazuki Ban
  • Patent number: 4236973
    Abstract: Organic material having a normal boiling point in excess of 200.degree. C. and a relative volatility with respect to water of at least one is removed from water contaminated therewith. The process comprises passing a current of vapor, sufficient to vaporize at least a portion of the organic material, through a moving stream of the contaminated water. In a preferred embodiment, the process comprises adjusting the pH of the contaminated water to a level sufficient to prevent substantial dissociation of the organic material. The contaminated water is then countercurrently contacted with a sufficient vapor flow to vaporize at least a portion of the organic material. The resulting organic material-containing vapor can be recovered, and the organic material removed. Illustrative of the process is the removal by air stripping of pentachlorophenol from waste water contaminated with about 250 parts per billion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventor: Lanny A. Robbins
  • Patent number: 4187150
    Abstract: A distilled water apparatus which comprises in nested vapor-sealed arrangement, a bottom raw water tank, a storage tank and a cooling and condensing tank. The storage tank has an outer annular storage compartment surrounding a vertical vapor passage and can be equipped with a basket for holding coffee or the like so that the device acts as a self-contained distilled water coffee maker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Inventor: Jay Rich
  • Patent number: 4184943
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon separation process which includes a novel method of fractionating the extract and raffinate streams removed from a simulated moving bed of a selective adsorbent. The extract and raffinate streams are passed into separate fractionation columns, each having a sidecut removed above the feed point. Each sidecut is stripped, with the stripper overhead vapor passing directly into the extract or raffinate column. The bottoms streams of the two sidecut strippers are combined and passed into the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Mark C. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4129606
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon stream comprising C.sub.2 to C.sub.8 hydrocarbons is stripped at a high temperature to allow passage of the stripper bottoms stream into a reaction zone without further heating, and the effluent of the reaction zone is then heat exchanged against the feed stream to the stripper column to recover heat. Operation of the reaction zone at the desired temperature is achieved by adjusting the amount of the stripper bottoms stream which is split off for cooling by heat exchange against the feed to the stripper column. The cooled split-off portion is then admixed with the remaining high temperature portion. Adjusting the flow rate of the portion of hot reaction zone effluent which is heat exchanged against the stripper feed stream is performed to control either the temperature of the stripper feed stream or the temperature of the reaction zone effluent as it is passed to a downstream operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Steve A. Gewartowski
  • Patent number: 4099936
    Abstract: A process for the purification of a mixture of silane and impurities comprising passing the mixture through a succession of zones connected in series, in a closed system, according to the following steps:(a) passing the mixture, in gaseous form, through a zone containing porous, granular charcoal as an adsorbent at a temperature in the range of about minus 40.degree. C to about minus 80.degree. C to provide a mixture of silane and remaining impurities in gaseous form;(b) passing the gaseous mixture from step (a) through a zone containing porous, granular magnesium silicate as a adsorbent at a temperature in the range of about minus 40.degree. C to about minus 80.degree. C to provide a mixture of silane and remaining impurities in gaseous form;(c) passing the gaseous mixture from step (b) into a distillation zone in such a manner that the impurities are removed overhead in gaseous form and at least about 95 per cent by weight of the silane is converted to liquid bottoms; and(d) recovering the bottoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1978
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventor: Gregorio Tarancon
  • Patent number: 4071398
    Abstract: A continuous, low cost method of concentrating dilute streams containing fractions of adsorbable chemicals is disclosed which minimizes heat consumption and provides highly concentrated supplies of valuable chemicals which are suitable for reuse or sale without substantial further processing. The methods hereof are particularly adapted for concentrating waste condensates derived from pulp-making operations such as the Kraft or sulfite processes, but in general are also applicable for treating a wide variety of dilute organic or inorganic adsorbable chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1978
    Assignee: Flambeau Paper Company
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Baierl
  • Patent number: 4061546
    Abstract: Formic acid is removed from acetic acid substantially free of halide impurities but containing small amounts of formic acid by contacting the acid with a compound of hexavalent chromium and recovering the purified acid from the resulting mixture by distillation, ion-exchange, or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the acid to be purified is distilled in the presence of a solution of the hexavalent chromium compound, the purified acid being obtained as the overhead product while the bottoms stream contains the reduced chromium compound. With the preferred chromium trioxide as treating agent, this compound can be recovered for re-use by adding a strong mineral acid to the bottoms stream from the distillation, electrolytically oxidizing the chromium compound contained therein, and separating chromium trioxide from the strong mineral acid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: Thomas C. Singleton
  • Patent number: 4053367
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon stream comprising benzene is stripped at a high temperature to allow passage of the stripper bottoms stream into a clay treating zone without further heating, and the effluent of the clay treating zone is then exchanged against the feed stream to the stripper column to recover heat. Operation at the optimum clay treating temperature is achieved by adjusting the amount of the stripper bottoms stream which is split off for cooling by heat exchange against the feed to the stripper column. The cooled split-off portion is then admixed with the remaining high temperature portion. Adjusting the flow rate of the portion of hot clay treater effluent which is heat exchanged against the stripper feed stream is performed to control the temperature of either the stripper feed stream or the temperature of the clay treater effluent as it is passed into a downstream fractionator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Steve A. Gewartowski
  • Patent number: 4039428
    Abstract: A process is provided for producing ultra-pure propionic acid, i.e., acid containing less than 20 parts by weight of iodine per billion parts by weight of acid, wherein crude acid containing water and iodine contaminants is distilled in a single distillation zone and no waste streams requiring treatment or disposal are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventor: YuWen Wei
  • Patent number: 4024026
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon stream comprising benzene is stripped at a high temperature to allow passage of the stripper bottoms stream into a clay treating zone without further heating, and the effluent of the clay treating zone is then exchanged against the feed stream to the stripper column to recover heat. Operation at the optimum clay treating temperature is achieved by adjusting the amount of the stripper bottoms stream which is split off for cooling by heat exchange against the feed to the stripper column. The cooled split-off portion is then admixed with the remaining high temperature portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1977
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Steve A. Gewartowski
  • Patent number: 4013519
    Abstract: A recovery method by means of which an antimony compound is separated from polyester still bottoms. If desired, the method can be employed so as to recover in usable form, the antimony compound, and the monomers polymerized to produce the polyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1977
    Assignee: Safetech, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Noel Hoppert, Alfred Berghausen, III
  • Patent number: 4008289
    Abstract: A more economical method of removing materials adsorbed on solid adsorbents used to treat hydrocarbon streams is presented. The method comprises removing a liquid hydrocarbon stream from a distillation column, vaporizing the liquid stream and superheating the vapors which are formed, passing the superheated vapor through the adsorbent and effecting the removal of the adsorbed material, and then returning the vapor to the fractionation column and utilizing the vapor as stripping media within the column. In the preferred embodiment, water is removed from alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Universal Oil Products Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. Ward, George R. Winter, III
  • Patent number: 3992469
    Abstract: There is a drastic change in the composition of the effluent streams of a fixed bed adsorption column when the feed and withdrawal points are periodically advanced in order to simulate moving-bed operation. These effluents are fractionated to recover a desorbent which is recycled to the adsorption column. The claimed process improves the efficiency of this fractionation by changing the locations at which the effluents enter the fractionators to correlate the compositions of the effluents and the material in the fractionators at these locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Assignee: Universal Oil Products Company
    Inventor: Clarence G. Gerhold
  • Patent number: 3970711
    Abstract: A method of improving the quality of ethylene glycols, particularly monoethylene glycol which is derived from ethylene oxide produced by the direct oxidation of ethylene with air or oxygen is described. The novel method involves the removal of certain impurities from the ethylene oxide producing reaction system prior to the final processing of the ethylene oxide produced to glycol products. In a particular embodiment contaminating impurities are removed from a purge stream taken from the ethylene oxide reaction system and which is utilized in the ethylene glycols reaction system. Removal of the impurities by the preferred method of carbon adsorption produces in the ethylene glycols reaction system, glycols which have improved ultraviolet light transmittance. In particular, monoethylene glycol having an ultraviolet light transmittance rendering it suitable for use in fiber making processes is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1971
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1976
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Ronald Reiche, Jerry A. Heckman
  • Patent number: 3936359
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for the purification of crude dehydroacetic acid by means of simple vacuum or reduced pressure distillation wherein activated charcoal is added to the still. The term reduced pressure is used in the sense that it excludes complicated distillations such as fractional distillation and it is synonymous with simple vacuum distillation. Preferably a pressure of about 10 to about 20 torr is maintained in the vacuum distillation still. Preferably, 0.1 to 1 percent by weight, relative to the total amount of the crude dehydroacetic acid, of activated charcoal is added to the still before the distillation occurs. Crude dehydroacetic acid, particularly that obtained from diketene, is quite impure and discolored. The process of this invention produces a pure dehydroacetic acid, which is pure white, has a transparency of 96 percent and which has a purity of greater than 99.9 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: Lonza Ltd.
    Inventor: Adrian Marxer