System for liquid extraction, and methods
AssigneeKarges-Faulconbridge, Inc.
InventorRobert Wills
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for removing water from solid material (10) using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction in an extraction system (100). Multiple solvents are used sequentially to replace the water with a first solvent, then replacing that solvent with a second solvent, etc., then eventually removing the last solvent from the solid materials. The solvents have progressively lower heats of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point or related property, so as to conserve use of thermal energy.
Claims20
A process for drying solids initially wet with water, the process comprising:
- (a) contacting a feed stream comprising solids having interstitial spaces, and water present in the interstitial spaces with a first solvent;
- (b) displacing the water present in the interstitial spaces with the first solvent to provide solids with the first solvent in the interstitial spaces;
- (c) contacting the feed stream having the first solvent in the interstitial spaces with a second solvent;
- and
- (d) displacing the first solvent present in the interstitial spaces with the second solvent to provide solids having the second solvent in the interstitial spaces.
A process for drying solids initially wet with water, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a feed stream comprising solids having interstitial spaces, and water present in the interstitial spaces;
- (b) providing an ethanol source stream;
- (c) providing an ether source stream;
- (d) displacing the water present in the interstitial spaces with the ethanol to provide solids with ethanol in the interstitial spaces;
- (e) displacing the ethanol present in the interstitial spaces with n-propyl bromide to provide solids with n-propyl bromide in the interstitial spaces;
- (f) removing the n-propyl bromide from the solids by the application of heat.
A process for drying solids initially wet with water, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a feed stream comprising solids having interstitial spaces, and water present in the interstitial spaces;
- (b) providing a first solvent from a source stream;
- (c) providing a second solvent from a source stream;
- (d) displacing the water present in the interstitial spaces with the first solvent to provide solids with the first solvent in the interstitial spaces;
- (e) displacing the first solvent present in the interstitial spaces with the second solvent to provide solids the second solvent in the interstitial spaces;
- and
- (f) removing the second solvent from the solids by the application of heat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.