Acetone Drying via Supercritical CO2 Phase Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional acetone drying methods are not economically viable or environmentally friendly at large scales due to high volatile organic compound emissions and capital expenses associated with distillation processes, limiting their application in commercial settings.
Innovation Solution
A process involving acetone-drying of hydrated feedstock at ambient temperature using carbon dioxide to separate and recover acetone without distillation, allowing for efficient dehydration and re-use of acetone, and capturing and reusing carbon dioxide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If acetone drying is performed at large scale using conventional distillation to separate acetone from water, then dehydration efficiency is improved, but capital expenses and operating costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses phase transition of carbon dioxide between supercritical and gas phases to achieve separation. By converting CO2 to a supercritical state and then allowing it to expand to gas phase, the system naturally separates acetone-rich liquid from CO2 gas without requiring complex distillation equipment, thereby reducing capital expenses while maintaining dehydration efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes physical parameters (temperature and pressure) of carbon dioxide to control its phase state. By adjusting CO2 to supercritical conditions during extraction and then allowing pressure reduction for gas phase expansion, the system achieves efficient separation and acetone recovery without expensive distillation infrastructure
2Productivity
If acetone drying is performed at large scale, then dehydration capacity is improved, but volatile organic compound emissions and environmental concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers acetone from the dehydration process by utilizing the phase expansion of carbon dioxide. The CO2 gas expansion naturally carries acetone vapor away from the feedstock, allowing acetone to be condensed and reused. This recovery mechanism reduces volatile organic compound emissions and enables large-scale dehydration with minimal environmental impact
Solution Approach 2:
Carbon dioxide acts as an intermediary substance that facilitates the separation of acetone from water-saturated feedstock. The CO2 supercritical fluid extracts acetone, then upon pressure reduction, expands to gas phase carrying acetone away from the system, enabling large-scale operation with controlled emissions
3Device complexity
If thermal drying techniques are used instead of acetone drying, then capital and operating expenses are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces thermal energy input with mechanical energy input. Instead of using heat for drying, the system uses pressurized carbon dioxide in supercritical state that can be converted to gas phase through pressure reduction. This mechanical phase transition approach achieves dehydration with lower energy consumption compared to thermal drying methods
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 enables energy-efficient, economically viable, and environmentally responsible dehydration of various feedstocks by reducing acetone usage and energy input, while effectively recovering and reusing acetone and carbon dioxide, thus minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the hydrated feedstock comprising water and insoluble solid with acetone, thereby yielding a first slurry comprised of acetone, water and the insoluble solid, wherein the acetone extracts the water from the insoluble solid
Implementation Method 2
contacting the solution with vapor phase carbon dioxide, thereby splitting the solution into an acetone-rich phase and a water-rich phase
Implementation Method 3
extracting the acetone and water from the insoluble solid by contacting with liquid phase carbon dioxide; wherein the carbon dioxide displaces the water and acetone in the insoluble solid
Implementation Method 4
depressurizing the insoluble solid saturated with liquid phase carbon dioxide to atmospheric pressure to release gas phase carbon dioxide, thereby yielding dehydrated insoluble solid
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides energy and economically efficient and environmentally responsible processes for using acetone to dry, dehydrate and/or dewater various hydrated feedstocks.