Separation process using cellulose acetate butyrate bound zeolite adsorbents

Abstract

An improved process for separating a component from a feed mixture comprising an aqueous solution of a mixture of different components, such as a mixture of saccharides. In the process the mixture is contacted with an adsorbent comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate, which selectively adsorbs a component from the feed mixture. The adsorbed component is then recovered by contacting the adsorbent with a desorbent material such as water to effect the desorption of the adsorbed component from the adsorbent. There is an undesirable tendency for the silicon constituent of the crystalline aluminosilicate to dissolve in the aqueous system. The improvement to the adsorbent and process comprises the incorporation of a binder material in the adsorbent comprising cellulose acetate butyrate which substantially reduces the undesirable dissolution. The adsorbent is manufactured by mixing together powder of the crystalline aluminosilicate, powders of the binder, and a liquid organic solvent, extruding the mixture into an extrudate and drying the extrudate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.