High efficiency chemical processing
AssigneeAthens Corporation
InventorsRobert T. Shinagawa, Susan M. Jordan, Christopher S. Blatt
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Abstract
A high efficiency batch sulfuric acid reprocessor system that is capable of producing high purity acid through distillation. Methods of use are also provided. The distillation is monitored and controlled in accordance with temperatures of the system, in particular, the temperature of the column and the temperature of the vapor in a condensing chamber. A stream splitter enables the invention to selectively collect high purity product as well as remove waste or recycle condensate as reflux.
Claims6
A method for batchwise distillation of a liquid product contaminated with a liquid contaminant, comprising the steps of:
- directing said contaminated product into a distillation apparatus, said apparatus having only a single distillation column, wherein said product is a mineral acid;
- heating the contaminated product in said distillation apparatus;
- monitoring the temperature and optionally the pressure in the distillation column;
- first condensing liquid contaminant from vapor exiting the top of the column, and directing increasing amounts of condensate into the column as reflux as the temperature and/or pressure in the column increases, thereby maintaining the composition of the condensate as primarily the liquid contaminant;
- then decreasing the amount of condensate returned as reflux when the temperature and/or pressure in the column indicates that the composition of the liquid in the column has reached a desired value, thereby indicating that a desired amount of contaminant has been removed, thus shifting from contaminant removal to product collection;
- and then
- collecting condensed product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.