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US 5,492,603 AGranted
Apparatus for recovering acetic acid from aqueous streams
AssigneeGlitsch, Inc.
InventorsRonald G. Gualy, Wiston Lamshing, Joseph C. Gentry, Fernando Varela
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for recovering acetic acid from an acetic acid/water waste stream which includes a dehydration column into which the stream is fed and a liquid-liquid extraction system for recovering acetic acid from the condensate of the overhead stream of the dehydration column. Optionally, low pressure and/or high pressure absorber systems are provided to process vapor and/or liquid streams associated with the recovery system and/or the plant in which the acetic acid is used to further the recovery of acetic acid and reduce atmospheric pollution.
Claims18
An acetic acid and water separation system in a plant utilizing a water solution of acetic acid comprising:
- (a) a dehydration device having an input line for inputting at least one input acetic acid-containing water stream from said plant and having means to apply heat to said input stream input to said device to separate water from acetic acid in said device to thereby produce an output bottom stream of relatively concentrated acetic acid in water, and an output overhead stream of relatively dilute acetic acid in water;
- (b) condensing means connected to said dehydration device by a dehydration device overhead line to liquefy acetic acid and water from said output overhead stream to form an output overhead condensate;
- (c) a liquid-liquid extraction sub-system connected by a feed line to said condensing means, said sub-system comprising:
- (i) a contactor connected to said condensing means by said feed line for receiving said output overhead condensate and contacting it with a liquid extractant to extract acetic acid from said condensate and thereby form a first contactor output stream containing acetic acid and extractant, and a second contactor output stream containing water;
- and
- (ii) an extraction sub-system separator device connected by a separator feed line to said contactor to receive said first contactor output stream and separate the acetic acid and the extractant therein to produce an extractant output stream and an acetic acid output stream.
3 more elements
An acetic acid and water separation system in a plant utilizing a water solution of acetic acid comprising:
- (a) a dehydration device having an input line for inputting at least one input acetic acid-containing water stream from said plant and having means to apply heat to said input stream input to said device to separate water from acetic acid in said device to thereby produce an output bottom stream of relatively concentrated acetic acid in water, and an output overhead stream of relatively dilute acetic acid in water;
- (b) condensing means connected to said dehydration device by a dehydration device overhead line to liquefy acetic acid and water from said output overhead stream to form an output overhead condensate;
- (c) a liquid-liquid extraction sub-system connected by a feed line to said condensing means, said sub-system comprising:
- (i) a contactor connected to said condensing means by said feed line for receiving said output overhead condensate and contacting it with a liquid extractant to extract acetic acid from said condensate and thereby form a first contactor output stream containing acetic acid and extractant, and a second contactor output stream containing water;
- and
- (ii) an extraction sub-system separator device connected by a separator feed line to said contactor to receive said first contactor output stream and separate the acetic acid and the extractant therein to produce an extractant output stream and an acetic acid output stream;
- and
- including means for feeding at least one additional relatively dilute acetic acid stream from said plant to said liquid-liquid extraction sub-system along with said output overhead condensate stream from said dehydration device.
5 more elements
An acetic acid and water separation system in a plant utilizing a water solution of acetic acid comprising:
- (a) a dehydration device having an input line for inputting at least one input acetic acid-containing water stream from said plant and having means to apply heat to said input stream input to said device to separate water from acetic acid in said device to thereby produce an output bottom stream of relatively concentrated acetic acid in water, and an output overhead stream of relatively dilute acetic acid in water;
- (b) condensing means connected to said dehydration device by a dehydration device overhead line to liquefy acetic acid and water from said output overhead stream to form an output overhead condensate;
- (c) a liquid-liquid extraction sub-system connected by a feed line to said condensing means, said sub-system comprising:
- (i) a contactor connected to said condensing means by said feed line for receiving said output overhead condensate and contacting it with a liquid extractant to extract acetic acid from said condensate and thereby form a first contactor output stream containing acetic acid and extractant, and a second contactor output stream containing water;
- and
- (ii) an extraction sub-system separator device connected by a separator feed line to said contactor to receive said first contactor output stream and separate the acetic acid and the extractant therein to produce an extractant output stream and an acetic acid output stream;
- (d) a low pressure absorption unit adapted to contact an absorption solvent and at least one acetic acid containing vapor stream from said acetic acid and water separation system, and a line for feeding absorption solvent after contact with said vapor stream to said liquid-liquid extraction sub-system.
4 more elements
An acetic acid and water separation system in a plant utilizing a water solution of acetic acid comprising:
- (a) a dehydration device having an input line for inputting at least one input acetic acid-containing water stream from said plant and having means to apply heat to said input stream input to said device to separate water from acetic acid in said device to thereby produce an output bottom stream of relatively concentrated acetic acid in water, and an output overhead stream of relatively dilute acetic acid in water;
- (b) condensing means connected to said dehydration device by a dehydration device overhead line to liquefy acetic acid and water from said output overhead stream to form an output overhead condensate;
- (c) a liquid-liquid extraction sub-system connected by a feed line to said condensing means, said sub-system comprising:
- (i) a contactor connected to said condensing means by said feed line for receiving said output overhead condensate and contacting it with a liquid extractant to extract acetic acid from said condensate and thereby form a first contactor output stream containing acetic acid and extractant, and a second contactor output stream containing water;
- and
- (ii) an extraction sub-system separator device connected by a separator feed line to said contactor to receive said first contactor output stream and separate the acetic acid and the extractant therein to produce an extractant output stream and an acetic acid output stream;
- and further comprising a high pressure absorber sub-system equipped to contact an absorbent liquid at high pressure with a plant overhead vapor stream having acetic acid therein, and means for delivering said absorbent liquid, after contact with said plant overhead vapor stream to said separator sub-system for processing therein.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.