Method and apparatus for in situ product recovery
AssigneeVito NV
InventorsWouter Van Hecke, Helmut Elslander, Karolien Vanbroekhoven, Helene De Wever, Herman Beckers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of obtaining a compound may include adding a substrate to a medium in a reactor, and reacting the substrate in the reactor to form the compound. A first stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a first membrane. A second stream is separated from the reaction liquid through a second membrane. The first membrane is a filtration membrane and the second membrane is configured for liquid-gas or liquid-liquid extraction The first membrane and the second membrane are at least partially immersed in the medium and are moved relative to the reactor during the separation steps.
Claims16
An apparatus, comprising:
- a reactor, comprising a first reactor vessel, a substrate supply, a first outlet and a second outlet,
- a filtration unit comprising a first membrane having a first surface communicating with the first reactor vessel and a second surface, opposite the first surface, communicating with the first outlet, and
- a liquid-liquid or liquid-gas extraction unit comprising a second membrane having a third surface communicating with the first reactor vessel and a fourth surface, opposite the third surface, communicating with the second outlet,
- wherein the liquid-liquid or liquid-gas extraction unit is configured to apply a pressure difference between the third surface and the fourth surface, comprising applying a partial vacuum at the fourth surface, such that a liquid compound from the first reactor vessel is recovered through a corresponding vapor at the fourth surface,
- wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are arranged inside the first reactor vessel,
- wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are arranged to move relative to the first reactor vessel, and
- wherein the first membrane is a microfiltration, ultrafiltration, or nanofiltration membrane, and the second membrane is a membrane for pervaporation or liquid-liquid extraction.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a reactor, comprising a first reactor vessel, a substrate supply, a first outlet and a second outlet;
- a filtration unit comprising a first membrane having a first surface communicating with the first reactor vessel and a second surface, opposite the first surface, communicating with the first outlet;
- and
- a liquid-liquid or liquid-gas extraction unit comprising a second membrane having a third surface communicating with the first reactor vessel and a fourth surface, opposite the third surface, communicating with the second outlet;
- wherein the liquid-liquid or liquid-gas extraction unit is configured to apply a first pressure difference between the third surface and the fourth surface, comprising applying a partial vacuum at the fourth surface, such that a liquid compound from the first reactor vessel is recovered through a corresponding vapor at the fourth surface;
- wherein the first membrane and the second membrane are arranged inside the first reactor vessel, and the first membrane and the second membrane are arranged to move relative to the first reactor vessel;
- wherein the filtration unit is configured to apply a second pressure difference between the first surface and the second surface, the second pressure difference being configured to generate a permeate flow from the first surface to the second surface;
- and
- wherein the first pressure difference is different than the second pressure difference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.