Adsorbent Purification of Renewable Feedstock Demulsifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of demulsifiers like polysorbate in feedstocks, such as technical corn oil, poses challenges in pretreatment processes by contributing to cake accumulation during filtration and deteriorating the purification of nitrogen, phosphorous, and metal impurities, making it difficult to achieve effective removal or reduction using existing methods.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing an adsorbent material, specifically a surface-activated mineral-based adsorbent, is used to contact the feedstock, allowing for the separation and reduction or complete removal of demulsifiers, thereby obtaining a purified feedstock with reduced levels of demulsifiers, phosphorous, and metals, which can be further used for fuel or chemical production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional filtration methods are used to remove impurities from feedstock, then filtration can separate solid particles, but demulsifiers cause cake accumulation that shortens filtration cycles and reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent material is added to the feedstock before filtration to pre-remove demulsifiers from the liquid phase. This preliminary action prevents demulsifiers from reaching the filter cake, eliminating the root cause of cake accumulation and extending filtration cycles without changing the filtration equipment itself
2Reliability
If demulsifiers are present in feedstock, then the feedstock can be processed, but purification of phosphorous and metals is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorbent material acts as an intermediary substance that selectively binds to demulsifiers through adsorption. This intermediary action removes demulsifiers from the feedstock before they can interfere with subsequent phosphorous and metal purification processes, thereby restoring overall purification efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If adsorbent material is used to remove demulsifiers, then demulsifier levels are reduced below detectable limits, but the process requires additional materials and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The adsorption step is merged with the existing filtration operation. The adsorbent material is added to the feedstock and the mixture is filtered in a single operational step, combining demulsifier removal and solid particle separation into one integrated process rather than requiring separate treatment stages
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
The process effectively reduces demulsifier levels to below detectable limits, improving filtration cycles and purification efficiency, enabling the use of previously unsuitable feedstocks for further processing into fuels or fine chemicals, and is scalable for industrial applications.
Implementation Method 1
contacting said feedstock with an adsorbent material, wherein the adsorbent material has been surface activated by acid treatment
Data Source
AI summary
Present invention relates to a novel process for purification of feedstocks.