Iterative reactive distillation of dynamic ester mixtures
AssigneeUniversity of Houston System
InventorsOgnjen Miljanic, Qing Ji
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An iterative method of performing a reactive distillation of dynamic ester libraries containing n×m (m≦n) components, to reduce such mixtures to n pure ester species. The distillation occurs under anhydrous conditions, using metal alkoxide catalysts. Vacuum distillation of the mixture then isolates the most volatile ester at the expense of other (2n−2) compounds. The volatile ester is removed, and the process repeated with progressively less volatile ester species, yielding high purities and greater than 70% yields.
Claims20
A method of separating a mixture of compounds, the method comprising:
- reactively distilling said mixture of compounds in the presence of a catalyst, wherein said distilling forms:
- a) at least a first distillation fraction;
- and
- b) a distillation residue;
- wherein said first fraction comprises a first volatile product that is at least 70% (w/w), and wherein said residue comprises a non-volatile product that is at least 70% (w/w).
A method of separating a mixture of N2 esters, the method comprising:
- reactively distilling said mixture of esters in the presence of a metal alkoxide, wherein said distilling forms:
- a) at least a first distillation fraction;
- and
- b) a distillation residue;
- wherein said mixture is reduced to N fractions of discrete esters of at least 70% w/w yield.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.