Apparatus and method for preferentially separating volatilizable components of a matrix

An apparatus for preferentially separating a high vapor pressure component from a low vapor pressure component, wherein at least a portion of each volatilizable component is volatilized from a matrix, which is disposed within a housing, comprising:

• a) a housing having
• i) a housing inlet,
• ii) a housing outlet,
• iii) at least one gas inlet tube for discharging a hot gas from the gas inlet tube above the matrix along at least a substantial portion of the length of the housing, and
• iv) at least one gas outlet tube for receiving the hot gas and the high and low vapor pressure components, the gas outlet tube having a first end connected to a first gas outlet of the housing and a second end connected to a second gas outlet of the housing for substantially separating discharge of the volatilized high and low vapor pressure components from the housing through the first and second gas outlets, respectively;
• b) conveying means for conveying the matrix from the housing inlet through the housing to the housing outlet;
• c) volatilizing means for volatilizing at least a portion of each of the high vapor pressure and the low vapor pressure components of the matrix within said housing;
• and
• d) means for preferentially directing the volatilized high vapor pressure component out of the housing through the first end of the gas outlet tube and the first gas outlet, and for preferentially directing the volatilized low vapor pressure component out of the housing through the second end of the gas outlet tube and the second gas outlet, thereby preferentially separating at least a portion of the high vapor pressure component from the low vapor pressure component of the matrix.

A method for preferentially separating a high vapor pressure component from a low vapor pressure component, wherein at least a portion of each component is volatilized from a matrix, comprising the steps of:

• a) conveying the matrix through a housing from a housing inlet at an inlet end of the housing to a housing outlet at an outlet end of the housing;
• b) heating the matrix to a temperature which is sufficient to volatilize at least a portion of each of the high vapor pressure component and the low vapor pressure component;
• c) preferentially directing the volatilized high vapor pressure component out of the housing through a first gas outlet at the housing;
• and
• d) preferentially directing the volatilized low vapor pressure component out of the housing through a second gas outlet, which is disposed at the housing and which is sufficiently remote from the first gas outlet to enable preferential separation of the volatilized high vapor pressure component from the volatilized low vapor pressure component, thereby preferentially separating the volatilized high vapor pressure component from the volatilized low vapor pressure component of the matrix.