Purification Or Recovery Patents (Class 568/913)
  • Patent number: 5874643
    Abstract: Fatty alcohol containing admixed therewith a small amount on the order of up to 1.0 wt. % of hypophosphorous acid, exhibits markedly reduced oxidation and oxidation-related deterioration such as discoloration and other side effects. This discovery is particularly useful when the fatty alcohol is subjected to reactions such as esterification under conditions which could cause or accelerate undesired oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Witco Corporation
    Inventors: Garrett Mineo, Michael Denoux
  • Patent number: 5868906
    Abstract: A method for the on-site reprocessing of isopropyl alcohol used in semiconductor manufacturing, to generate an ultradry and ultrapure isopropyl alcohol. This ultradry and ultrapure isopropyl alcohol is produced through a pervaporation step, followed by double distillation. In the first distillation step, an autonomous azeotropic self-stripping distillation column is used to produce an ultradry and partially purified isopropyl alcohol. In the next step, the isopropyl alcohol is distilled in an overhead product distillation column, to produce an ultrapure and ultradry isopropyl alcohol. Alternatively, if the feed isopropyl alcohol contains less than 2000 ppm water, the pervaporation step may be omitted.The resulting isopropyl alcohol has between a high of 100 parts per million (ppm) and a low of 0.1 ppm of water in the isopropyl alcohol. It also has zero particles per milliliter of a size larger than 2.0 microns, zero to 2 particles per milliliter of a size of 0.5 micron to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Athens Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Adams, Gerald A. Krulik, Christopher Blatt, David Persichini
  • Patent number: 5868907
    Abstract: Methyl ethyl ketone cannot be separated from ethanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. Methyl ethyl ketone is readily separated from ethanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are amyl acetate, methyl formate, 2,2-dimethyl butane and 2,3-dimethyl butane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5866381
    Abstract: Described is a microbiological method for producing C.sub.9, C.sub.11 and C.sub.13 alkanols defined according to the structures: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is methyl or n-propyl using ketones defined according to the generic structure: ##STR2## as a substrate and using the microorganism: Pseudomonas cepacia ATCC 55792or mutants thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamad I. Farbood, Laura E. Kizer, Lynda B. McLean, Mark A. Sprecker
  • Patent number: 5865957
    Abstract: A method for producing butyraldehydes, by separating and purifying mixed butyraldehyde products formed by hydroformylation of propylene, into n-butyraldehyde and isobutyraldehyde by using a distillation column, wherein the distillation column is operated under such conditions that the pressure at the top of the distillation column is within a range of from 0.001 to 0.5 kg/cm.sup.2 G, and the pressure at the bottom of the column is within a range of from 0.05 to 1.0 kg/cm.sup.2 G.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Company
    Inventors: Akio Ueda, Kuninori Sadaie
  • Patent number: 5863391
    Abstract: Acetaldehyde may be effectively removed from a contaminated methanol stream using a distillation method wherein a solvent stream containing a relatively heavy polar compound such as water or propylene glycol is utilized as an extractive distillation solvent. Following the separation of the polar compound from the bottoms stream obtained by extractive distillation, the purified methanol may be recycled for use as a reaction solvent in an olefin epoxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Michael A. Rueter, John C. Jubin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5851362
    Abstract: 4-Methyl-2-pentanol cannot be separated from 3-methyl-1-butanol by distillation because of the closeness of their boiling points. 4-Methyl-2-pentanol can be easily separated from 3-methyl-1-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dodecane, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5800681
    Abstract: Ethanol, isopropanol and water cannot be separated from each other by distillation or rectification because of minimum azeotropes. They are readily separated by extractive distillation. Effective agents are: dimethylsulfoxide for ethanol, phenol for isopropanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5795447
    Abstract: 2-Butanol cannot be separated from isobutanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 2-Butanol is readily separated from isobutanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are propylene glycol propyl ether, 2-methoxyethanol and ethyl acetate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5789629
    Abstract: 3-Methyl-1-butanol is difficult to separate from 1-pentanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2 Methyl-1-butanol can be easily separated from 1-pentanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are phenol, anisole and methyl salicylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5779862
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol are difficult to separate from 1-pentanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-butanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol can be easily separated from 1-pentanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are toluene, methyl acetate and tetrahydrofuran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5779861
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating chemical production plant process condensate and low pressure purge gas such that a contaminant-rich stream is recoverable from the condensate and purge gas, wherein the contaminants are substantially removed from the condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/rectification tower. The tower overhead is then condensed, and any non-condensed gases are subjected to water scrubbing, along with the low pressure purge gas to further recover contaminates from the non-condensed gas. A portion of the condensed overhead and scrubbing water containing contaminates is returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance being withdrawn as a concentrated stream for reuse in the plant. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with existing low pressure equipment, avoiding costly major modifications, and is particularly adapted to use in conjunction with ammonia and methanol plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Farmland Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allan Holiday, Ralph A. Scott
  • Patent number: 5776321
    Abstract: 1-Propanol cannot be separated from t-amyl alcohol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 1-Propanol is readily separated from t-amyl alcohol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are heptane, ethyl acetate and tetrahydrofuran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5776322
    Abstract: 4-Methyl-2-pentanol cannot be separated from 3-methyl-1-butanol by distillation because of the closeness of their boiling points. 4-Methyl-2-pentanol can be easily separated from 3-methyl-1-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are m-xylene and cumene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5772853
    Abstract: 1-Propanol and t-amyl alcohol cannot be separated by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 1-Propanol is readily separated from t-amyl alcohol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dipentene, amyl acetate and 1,4-dioxane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5763694
    Abstract: 3-Methyl-1-butanol cannot be separated from 1-pentanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 3-Methyl-1-butanol is readily separated from 1-pentanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are methylcyclohexane, methyl formate and tetrahydrofuran.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5762765
    Abstract: Ethanol, isopropanol and water cannot be separated from each other by rectification because of the presence of minimum azeotropes. They are readily separated by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are cyclopentane for ethanol from water, methyl acetate for isopropanol from water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5763695
    Abstract: 3-Methyl-1-butanol cannot be separated from 1-pentanol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 3-Methyl-1-butanol is readily separated from 1-pentanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are butyl benzoate, 2-undecanone and diethylene glycol methyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5759359
    Abstract: 2-Butanol cannot be separated from t-amyl alcohol by distillation or rectification because of the closeness of their boiling points. 2-Butanol is readily separated from t-amyl alcohol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are methyl acetate, ethyl propionate and octane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5756866
    Abstract: The process claimed enables three separate streams to be obtained, from mixtures containing methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isobutanol, water and other both low- and high-boiling compounds, of which one is anhydrous basically consisting of methanol and ethanol (I), one containing most of the n-propanol present in the mixture fed (II), together with small quantities of methanol, ethanol, isobutanol and water, and one containing most of the isobutanol and high-boiling compounds present in the above mixture (III), by the use of three rectifying columns, stream (I) being taken from a lateral point of the first column, stream (II) obtained from the head of the second column, stream (III) obtained from the bottom of the second column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Agip Petroli S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Rescalli, Ugo Melis
  • Patent number: 5741952
    Abstract: An MTBE recycle stream (which consists mainly of TBA and methanol) contaminated with residual amounts of tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, ditertiary butyl peroxide and allyl tertiary butyl peroxide can be effectively catalytically treated under mild conversion conditions with a silica-supported nickel, copper, chromium, iron catalyst in order to substantially completely decompose the peroxide contaminants and to thereby provide a treated MTBE recycle stream which is not only substantially free from contaminating quantities of such peroxides, but which also contains an enhanced amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: John Ronald Sanderson, John Frederick Knifton
  • Patent number: 5738764
    Abstract: T-Amyl alcohol is difficult to separate from 2-methyl-1-propanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. T-Amyl alcohol can be easily separated from 2-methyl-1-propanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are triethyl amine, ethyl ether and acetone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5738763
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 2-methyl-1-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be readily separated from 2-methyl-1-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are hexyl formate, 2-heptanone and dipropyl amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5723698
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for decomposing formate esters, free acids and peroxides in a tertiary butyl alcohol stream to produce noncondensible gas products which comprises reacting said tertiary butyl alcohol stream or a methyl tertiary butyl alcohol stream containing formate esters over a catalyst comprising a non-noble Group VIII metal and a metal of Group IB on a support comprising an inert composition mixed with a hydrotalcite-like composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Huntsman Specialty Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Pei-Shing Eugene Dai, Laurence Darrel Neff, Kyle Lee Preston, Rei-Yu Judy Hwan
  • Patent number: 5723025
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 2-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be readily separated from 2-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are hexyl acetate, dimethyl phthalate and p-xylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5723024
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 1-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be readily separated from 1-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are ethyl benzene, amyl acetate and propoxypropanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5718809
    Abstract: T-Amyl alcohol and 2-methyl-1-propanol are difficult to separate by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. T-Amyl alcohol can be easily separated from 2-methyl-1-propanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are N,N-dimethylacetamide, cyclohexyl amine and glycerol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5716499
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 1-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be easily separated from 1-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are isobutyl acetate, methyl cyclohexane and 2-nitropropane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5709781
    Abstract: 1-Butanol is difficult to separate from 2-pentanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 1-Butanol can be easily separated from 2-pentanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are anisole, ethyl nonanate and butyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5693194
    Abstract: Butyraldehyde cannot be separated from ethanol by conventional distillation or rectification because they form a minimum boiling azeotrope. Butyraldehyde can be readily separated from ethanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are 2-propanol, m-xylene and dimethylsulfoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5658435
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 2-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be easily separated from 2-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are sulfolane, acetonitrile and acetal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5658436
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-butanol is impossible to separate from 3-methyl-l-butanol because they both boil at 130.degree. C. 2-Methyl-1-butanol can be readily separated from 3-methyl-1-butanol by extractive distillation. Effective agents are o-xylene, 3-carene and 1-methoxy-2-propanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5648564
    Abstract: A process for forming, isolating and purifying xanthophyll crystals, preferably lutein from marigold flower petals, zeaxanthin from wolfberries or capsanthin and capsorubin from red pepper, is disclosed. A xanthophyll diester-containing plant extract is saponified in a composition of propylene glycol and aqueous alkali to form xanthophyll crystals. Crystallization is achieved without the use of added organic solvents. The crystals are isolated and purified. The substantially pure xanthophyll crystals so obtained are suitable for human consumption and can be used as a nutritional supplement and as an additive in food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Kemin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney L. Ausich, David J. Sanders
  • Patent number: 5645695
    Abstract: 2-Methyl-1-propanol is difficult to separate from 2-methyl-1-butanol by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. 2-Methyl-1-propanol can be readily separated from 2-methyl-1-butanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are tetrahydrofuran, methyl acetate and toluene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5643420
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating chemical production plant process condensate such that a contaminant-rich stream and a relatively pure aqueous stream is separately recoverable from the condensate, wherein the contaminants are substantially removed from the condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/rectification tower. The tower overhead is then condensed, and any non-condensed gases are subjected to water scrubbing to further recover contaminates from the non-condensed gas. A portion of the condensed overhead and scrubbing water containing contaminates is returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance being withdrawn as a concentrated stream for reuse in the plant. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with existing low pressure equipment, avoiding costly major modifications, and is particularly adapted to use in conjunction with ammonia and methanol plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Farmland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan D. Holiday
  • Patent number: 5639355
    Abstract: A tertiary butyl hydroperoxide reaction product is distilled to provide a tertiary butyl alcohol distillation fraction containing tertiary butyl alcohol and a heavier fraction containing unreacted tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, and reaction by-products boiling below tertiary butyl alcohol, the tertiary butyl alcohol fraction is charged to a vacuum distillation column for separation into a vaporized overhead tertiary butyl alcohol fraction that is cooled to obtain a liquefaction product containing a minor amount of vaporized tertiary butyl alcohol and a major amount of a liquified tertiary butyl alcohol, andthe tertiary butyl alcohol vapors are dissolved in water to form an aqueous solution of tertiary butyl alcohol from which the tertiary butyl alcohol is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1997
    Assignee: Texaco Chemical Inc.
    Inventor: Huibert Sybrandus Jongenburger
  • Patent number: 5631302
    Abstract: From a synthesis gas which contains hydrogen and carbon oxides, methanol is produced on copper-containing catalysts under pressures in the range from 20 to 20 bars and at temperatures in the range from 200 to 350.degree. C. The synthesis gas is passed through a first synthesis reactor, which consists of a shaft reactor and contains a fixed bed of a copper-containing catalyst. The reaction in the shaft reactor is carried out adiabatically and without a recycling of synthesis gas. Together with recycle gas, the gas mixture which has not been reacted in the first synthesis reactor is passed through a second synthesis reactor, which contains a copper-containing catalyst, which is disposed in tubes and is indirectly cooled through boiling water. 10 to 30% of the carbon oxides of the synthesis gas are reacted in the shaft reactor to form methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Konig, Hermann Gohna
  • Patent number: 5607557
    Abstract: A process for separating a mixture containing mainly ethyl tertio-butyl ether (ETBE), ethanol and C.sub.4 hydrocarbons includes introducing the mixture to be separated into a debutanizer from which the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are recovered overhead with a fraction of the ethanol, and purified ETBE is recovered as a bottom product; a side stream of an ethanol-rich phase is extracted and sent to a permeation zone in which the dense film of the membrane is constituted by a N,N-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate polymer (DMAEMA) or a copolymer of DMAEMA with N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and/or with N-vinyl pyrrolidone (NVP); the ethanol-depleted retentate from this permeation zone is returned to the debutanizer and the permeate contains mainly separated ethanol.The process can be integrated into an ETBE production process, in which the ethanol separated during the permeation step is recycled to the etherification reactor. The debutanizer may be replaced by a catalytic distillation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventor: Christian Streicher
  • Patent number: 5585527
    Abstract: A process for separating a first component of a process stream from a second component of a process stream in a single vessel has been developed. The separation process uses an apparatus having a distillation zone to separate a first component from a second component of a process stream, thereby producing a distillation zone overhead stream enriched in the first component, and a membrane separation zone containing a membrane capable of selectively removing additional amounts of the second component from the distillation overhead stream. The benefit is the production of a high purity process at lower capital equipment costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Terry L. Marker
  • Patent number: 5580427
    Abstract: Butyraldehyde cannot be separated from ethanol by conventional distillation or rectification because they form a minimum boiling azeotrope. Butyraldehyde can be readily separated from ethanol by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are ethyl formate, hexane and isopropyl ether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Lloyd Berg
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5565068
    Abstract: In the multistage distillation of a methyl tertiary butyl ether reaction product comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether, tertiary butyl alcohol, methanol, isobutylene and water, the methyl tertiary butyl ether reaction product is separated in a primary methyl tertiary butyl ether distillation column into a lower boiling methyl tertiary butyl ether fraction and a higher boiling aqueous tertiary butyl alcohol fraction; the lower boiling aqueous tertiary butyl alcohol fraction is separated in a tertiary butyl alcohol distillation column into a vaporized overhead tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and a higher boiling water fraction; cooling water is charged to the reflux condenser for the tertiary butyl alcohol distillation column to liquify the vaporized, overhead tertiary butyl alcohol fraction and to convert the cooling water to wet steam, and the wet steam is independently charged to the reboiler for the primary methyl tertiary butyl ether distillation zone to supply the heat necessary for the distillation to b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Texaco Development Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart J. Parker, Arlen G. Sliger, Rei-Yu J. Hwan
  • Patent number: 5559254
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for separating a mixture of methanol and tetrahydrofuran into its components. The separation is carried out in the liquid or gaseous phase through an organophilic membrane, for example, a plasma polymerization membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joseph Krug, Christof Palm
  • Patent number: 5538599
    Abstract: A process is provided whereby phenol is separated from 1-phenyl ethanol, acetophenone or mixtures by extractive distillation with sulfolane as extractive distillation agent which decreases phenol volatility relative to 1-phenyl ethanol and acetophenone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: ARCO Chemical Technology, L.P.
    Inventors: Tim T. Wong, Stephen H. Harris, Thomas S. Zak, Te Chang
  • Patent number: 5504239
    Abstract: A first alkanol having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms can be separated off from other organic compounds of higher carbon number from the group comprising other alcohols, polyalcohols, ethers, oxo compounds, esters of carboxylic acids and of carbonic acid, haloaliphatics, amines, amides, hydrocarbons, carboxylic acids and nitriles, which in each case have at least 1 carbon atom more than the first alkanol, where in the case of halogenoaliphatics, halogen substituents are counted as further carbon atoms, by permeation on membranes, if a water content from 1 to 30% by weight, preferably from 5 to 15% by weight, based on the amount of mixture and water, is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolf Mehl, Wolfgang Scheinert, Ingo Janisch, Andreas Groschl
  • Patent number: 5498317
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating chemical production plant process condensate such that a contaminant-rich stream and a relatively pure aqueous stream is separately recoverable from the condensate, wherein the contaminants are substantially removed from the condensate by steam stripping and subsequent rectification in a relatively low pressure stripping/rectification tower. The tower overhead is then condensed with a portion of the condensed overhead being returned to the top of the rectification section of the tower as reflux and the balance being withdrawn as a concentrated stream for reuse in the plant. In a second embodiment, separate stripping and rectification towers operate in series whereby the overhead of the stripping tower is delivered to the lower section of the rectification tower and the rectification bottoms are returned to the top of the stripping tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Farmland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allan D. Holiday
  • Patent number: 5494556
    Abstract: A method of separating a liquid mixture wherein the liquid mixture is heated; the heated liquid mixture is supplied to a pervaporation membrane module to separate a permeable component of the liquid; a portion of non-permeated liquid is circulated through a circulation pipe into a liquid mixture feeding pipe before a heater, and the remaining portion of the non-permeated liquid is extracted to the outside of the system, and wherein the temperature of the liquid in the liquid mixture feeding pipe in which the non-permeated liquid has been mixed with the liquid mixture or in the circulation pipe for the non-permeated liquid, is measured, and when the measured temperature is out of a predetermined range, new supply of the liquid mixture and/or extraction of the non-permeated liquid is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Mitsubishi Kasei Engineering Company
    Inventors: Masaaki Mita, Masumi Hino, Moriyoshi Kudo
  • Patent number: 5470443
    Abstract: Isopropanol is difficult to separate from 2-butanone by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. Isopropanol can be readily separated from 2-butanone by extractive distillation. Effective agents are o-cresol, ethylene glycol and nitroethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Lloyd Berg
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5453166
    Abstract: Ethanol is impossible to separate from 2-butanone by conventional distillation or rectification because of the minimum boiling azeotrope between these two. Ethanol can be readily separated from 2-butanone by extractive distillation. Effective agents are dipromyl amine, phenol and dimethylsulfoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Lloyd Berg
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg
  • Patent number: 5449440
    Abstract: From a mixture containing methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isobutanol water and other high-boiling and low-boiling compounds, the claimed process enables three separate streams to be obtained, one an anhydrous stream of methanol or methanol and ethanol (I), one containing most of the n-propanol present in the feed mixture (II), and one containing most of the isobutanol present in the feed mixture (III), by using three fractionating columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Snamprogetti S.p.A.
    Inventors: Carlo Rescalli, Flavio Cianci
  • Patent number: 5447608
    Abstract: 3-Methyl-2-butanol, 2-pentanol and 1-butanol are difficult to separate by conventional distillation or rectification because of the proximity of their boiling points. Mixtures of these three can be readily separated from each other by azeotropic distillation. Effective agents are hexyl acetate, hexane and 3-methyl pentane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Lloyd Berg
    Inventor: Lloyd Berg