This invention provides a method and
system for purifying a cyclic ester
stream. The method includes the step of continuously evaporating a solution
stream containing cyclic esters, thereby converting all or part of the cyclic esters into a
solid state. Specifically, it includes the following steps: (a) introducing the solution
stream containing cyclic esters into a continuous
evaporation concentration unit, thereby converting all or part of the cyclic esters into a
solid state, to obtain a gaseous
solvent and a stream A containing purified
solid cyclic esters; (b) introducing the stream A containing purified solid cyclic esters obtained in step (a) into a particle size
control unit, to obtain a stream B containing purified solid cyclic esters; optionally, (c) introducing the stream B containing purified solid cyclic esters obtained in step (b) into a solid-liquid separation unit, to obtain a filtrate and a stream C containing purified solid cyclic esters; (d)
drying the stream B containing purified solid cyclic esters obtained in step (b) or the stream C containing purified solid cyclic esters obtained in step (c), to obtain dried glycolide particles. This invention solves the technical problems of high difficulty in particle size control, insufficient
chemical purity of the product, and inability to operate continuously in existing glycolide purification technologies.