Method and System for Separation of a Polymer from Multiple Compounds
AssigneeTicona LLC
InventorsVenkata Nekkanti, Michael Haubs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, devices, and systems that can be utilized in separating a polymer from other compounds of a polymer formation process are described. The methods utilize multiple sedimentors in a countercurrent flow design in conjunction with different solvent solutions in the multiple sedimentors to separate a product polymer from other compounds of a polymer formation process. The sedimentors include feed inlets that can encourage contact between countercurrent flows and improve mass transfer rates between the countercurrent flows.
Claims32
A method for separating a solid polymer from multiple compounds comprising:
- introducing a first slurry into a first sedimentor, the first slurry including the solid polymer, a liquid carrier, and multiple compounds of formation of the polymer;
- introducing a first solvent into the first sedimentor, the first slurry flowing through the first sedimentor countercurrent to the first solvent within at least a portion of the first sedimentor, one or more compounds of formation of the polymer being soluble in the first solvent, the one or more first solvent soluble compounds transferring from the first slurry to the first solvent within the first sedimentor, the first slurry thus being transformed and forming a second slurry;
- introducing the second slurry into a second sedimentor;
- introducing a second solvent into the second sedimentor, the second solvent differing from the first solvent, the second slurry flowing through the second sedimentor countercurrent to the second solvent within at least a portion of the second sedimentor, one or more compounds of formation of the polymer being soluble in the second solvent, the one or more second solvent soluble compounds transferring from the second slurry to the second solvent within the second sedimentor, the second slurry thus being transformed and forming a third slurry.
A sedimentor comprising:
- an upper section, the upper section including an outlet for a liquid flow;
- a middle section, the middle section including an inlet for a slurry flow, the middle section including a wall, wherein the inlet for the slurry flow joins the wall such that the inlet for the slurry flow and the wall are substantially tangent to one another;
- a lower section, the lower section including an inlet for a liquid flow and an outlet for a slurry flow.
A system for separating a polymer from multiple compounds, the system comprising:
- a first sedimentor;
- a slurry inlet to the first sedimentor,
- a liquid inlet to the first sedimentor for delivering a first solvent to the first sedimentor, the liquid inlet being located on the first sedimentor such that a slurry flowing through the first sedimentor flows countercurrent to the first solvent delivered via the liquid inlet within at least a portion of the first sedimentor;
- a slurry outlet from the first sedimentor;
- a second sedimentor;
- a slurry inlet to the second sedimentor, the slurry outlet from the first sedimentor being in fluid communication with the slurry inlet to the second sedimentor;
- a liquid inlet to the second sedimentor for delivering a second solvent to the second sedimentor, the first solvent and the second solvent being different solvents, the liquid inlet being located on the second sedimentor such that a slurry flowing through the second sedimentor flows countercurrent to the second solvent delivered via the liquid inlet within at least a portion of the second sedimentor;
- and
- a slurry outlet from the second sedimentor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.