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US 8,298,429 B2Granted
Apparatus for treating a waste stream
AssigneeMerichem Company
InventorsTom Varadi, Marie-Cecile Medine, Arturo Ramon Puigbo, Ramiro G. Vazquez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An integrated unit operations for the treatment of a waste stream, such as spent caustic, is provided in a single vertical vessel having at least three separate zones: a mixing, a settling, and a mass transfer zone.
Claims7
An integrated treatment vessel for treating waste streams comprising, in combination,
- a) a vertical column having an interior divided into at least a mixing zone, a settling zone and a mass transfer zone;
- b) a waste stream inlet in liquid communication with the mixing zone;
- c) at least one pH sensor in liquid communication with the mixing and settling zones and configured to control the addition of neutralization liquid into the mixing zone through a neutralization line;
- d) an off gas outlet in communication with the mixing zone;
- e) an organic stream outlet in liquid communication with the settling zone;
- f) a liquid transfer line connecting the settling zone with the mass transfer zone;
- g) a vapor line connecting the mass transfer zone to the settling zone;
- h) an inert gas inlet in communication with the mass transfer zone;
- and
- i) a treated waste stream outlet in liquid communication with the mass transfer zone.
7 more elements
A process for the neutralization of spent caustic comprising,
- a) adding a liquid stream of spent caustic to a vertical column having an interior divided into at least a mixing zone, a settling zone and a mass transfer zone;
- b) adding a liquid neutralization stream to the mixing zone to create an admixture;
- c) monitoring the pH of the mixing zone and of the settling zone;
- d) controlling the addition of the liquid neutralization stream based on the pH of the mixing and setting zones;
- e) continuously removing a portion of the admixture from the mixing zone via a downcomer into the settling zone to create an aqueous phase and an organic phase;
- f) decanting a portion of the organic phase from the settling zone for removal from the process;
- g) removing a portion of the aqueous phase into the mass transfer zone;
- h) introducing an inert gas into the mass transfer zone to contact the aqueous phase to strip acid gases from the mass transfer zone to create a sweep gas and stripped aqueous phase;
- i) removing a portion of the stripped aqueous phase from the process;
- j) introducing a portion of the sweep gas into the mixing zone;
- and
- k) removing the sweep gas from the mixing zone.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.