Acetone Purification via Catalytic Impurity Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for purifying crude acetone streams struggle to effectively separate low-boiling impurities from acetone, as they are difficult to remove and interfere with the production of high-purity isopropanol, leading to reduced product purity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Treating the crude acetone stream with a solid acid catalyst, such as zeolites or crosslinked acidic polymer resins, to convert low-boiling impurities into higher-boiling impurities, which can then be easily separated through distillation, followed by hydrogenation to produce high-purity isopropanol.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional distillation methods are used to purify crude acetone, then the separation process is simple, but low-boiling impurities cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by converting low-boiling impurities into higher-boiling impurities through catalytic reaction before the distillation process. This pre-treatment step modifies the impurities' boiling points, making them separable from acetone in subsequent distillation, thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving high purity and maintaining purification efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the impurities by converting them from low-boiling to higher-boiling compounds through catalytic reaction. This parameter change in boiling point enables effective separation through conventional distillation, achieving both high acetone purity and efficient purification
2Manufacturing precision
If low-boiling impurities are directly distilled from acetone, then the process is straightforward, but separation is difficult and product purity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The catalytic conversion of low-boiling impurities to higher-boiling impurities is performed as a preliminary action before distillation. This transforms the separation problem from difficult (low-boiling impurities near acetone's boiling point) to easy (higher-boiling impurities well-separated from acetone), thereby improving both product purity and ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The solid acid catalyst acts as an intermediary that facilitates the transformation of impurities. By introducing this catalyst, the system enables selective conversion of low-boiling impurities without requiring complex separation equipment, making the overall process easier to operate while achieving high isopropanol purity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method increases the purity of acetone to at least 80% and isopropanol to at least 99.5%, enhancing the yield and purity of isopropanol production by converting low-boiling impurities into higher-boiling ones that are easier to remove, thereby improving the overall process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
treating a crude acetone stream which comprises acetone and at least one low-boiling impurity with a solid acid catalyst to form a treated acetone stream that comprises acetone and at least one higher-boiling impurity
Implementation Method 2
distilling the treated acetone stream to remove at least a portion of the higher-boiling impurity to produce a purified acetone stream
Implementation Method 3
feeding the purified acetone stream to a hydrogenation reactor in a process for making isopropanol to produce purified isopropanol
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of treating a crude acetone stream. The method generally includes treating a crude acetone stream which has acetone and at least one low-boiling impurity with a catalyst to form a treated acetone stream that has acetone and at least one higher-boiling impurity and then distilling the treated acetone stream to remove at least a portion of the higher-boiling impurity to produce a purified acetone stream. This is particularly helpful in processes where a more pure acetone is desired, including a process for making purified isopropanol.