# US 10,501,430 B2 · Process for the recovery of furfural > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,430 B2 - Document ID: US10501430B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/346,317 - Filed: 2017-10-30 - Published: 2019-09-12 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-01 - Assignees: Shell Oil Company - Applicants: Shell Oil Company - Inventors: Juben Nemchand Chheda; Jean Paul Andre Marie Joseph Ghislain Lange - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501430B2 ## CPC - C07D 307/50: Preparation from natural products - B01D 3/36: Azeotropic distillation - C07D 307/48: Furfural - C07D: HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS (macromolecular compounds C08) - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) ## Abstract Disclosed is a process for the extraction of furfural including: (a) subjecting a composition comprising furfural, water, at least one inorganic acid, at least one organic acid and a solvent mixture comprising an aromatic solvent and an oxygenate solvent, to a first separation step providing: (i) a first organic phase; (b) subjecting the first organic phase to a first distillation step providing: (i) a first top stream comprising furfural and a portion of the at least one organic acid; (c) subjecting the first top stream from step (b) to a second separation step providing: (i) a second top stream enriched with furfural; (d) subjecting the second top stream from step (c) to a second distillation step providing: (i) a third top stream comprising a furfural-water azeotrope, and (ii) a third bottom stream comprising furfural. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A process for the extraction of furfural from a composition comprising furfural, water, at least one organic acid and a solvent mixture comprising an aromatic solvent and an oxygenate solvent wherein each of the solvents in the solvent mixture has a boiling point higher than of furfural, said process comprising: (a) subjecting the composition to a first liquid-liquid separation step to provide a first organic phase comprising the solvent mixture, a portion of the furfural and a portion of the at least one organic acid, and a first aqueous phase comprising the remainder of the furfural, and the remainder of the at least one organic acid; (b) subjecting the first organic phase to a first distillation step to provide a first top stream comprising furfural and a portion of the at least one organic acid, and a first bottom stream comprising the solvent mixture; (c) subjecting the first top stream from step (b) to a second liquid-liquid separation step to provide a second top stream enriched with furfural and a portion of the at least one organic acid, and a second bottom stream comprising the remainder of the furfural and a portion of the at least one organic acid; and (d) subjecting the second top stream from step (c) to a second distillation step to provide a third top stream comprising a furfural-water azeotrope and a portion of the at least one organic acid, and a third bottom stream comprising furfural. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the composition is derived from a product stream of a pentose dehydration step wherein a pentose feed stream is dehydrated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The process according to claim 2, wherein the pentose feed stream is derived from the hydrolysis of a lignocellulosic biomass. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the aromatic solvent is selected from the group consisting of 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylbenzene, 1-ethyl-2,5-dimethylbenzene, 1-ethyl-2,4-dimethylbenzene, 1-ethyl-3,4-dimethylbenzene, 1,2,3,5-tetramethylbenzene, 1,2,3,4-tetramethylbenzene, 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, n- and sec-propyl-methyl benzenes (with the methyl group located in 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-position) n- and sec-butyl benzene, n- and sec-pentyl benzene, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the oxygenate solvent is selected from the group consisting of: propyl guaiacol; propyl syringol; guaiacyl propanol, syringyl propanol; nonyl phenol; o-, m-, p-substituted cresols; guaiacol; 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol; eugenol; 2,6-xylenol; sec-butyl phenol and 2,5-xylenol; and any combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent mixture comprises a phenolic to aromatic volume ratio of in the range of from 20:80 to 80:20. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the solvent mixture comprises a phenolic to aromatic volume ratio of 30:70. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the second bottom stream of step (c) is subjected to a third distillation step to provide a fourth top stream comprising a furfural-water azeotrope, and a fourth bottom stream comprising water and a portion of the at least one organic acid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the first aqueous phase of step (a) and a portion of the first bottom stream of step (b) are conveyed to a third liquid-liquid separator and subjected to a third liquid-liquid separation step to provide a fifth top stream comprising furfural and the solvent mixture, and an aqueous waste stream comprising water and at least one organic acid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The process according to claim 1, wherein the fifth top stream is recycled to the first distillation step.