Alkyl Amine Solvent Extraction for Glycol Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for recovering hydrate inhibitors like monoethylene glycol from aqueous solutions are energy-intensive, costly, and prone to contamination, with high temperature exposure leading to degradation, and involve large distillation duties and precipitation issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using an alkyl amine solvent for liquid-liquid extraction to separate and recover alcohols from aqueous streams, avoiding the need for extensive distillation and minimizing exposure to high temperatures, while allowing for the selective separation of alcohols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If boiling off water is used to recover monoethylene glycol, then the alcohol can be recovered from aqueous solution, but large quantities of water must be boiled off requiring high energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts alcohol from aqueous solution using a liquid-liquid extraction process with an organic solvent instead of evaporating water. The solvent selectively dissolves the alcohol, separating it from water without requiring boiling off large quantities of water, thereby dramatically reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the separation mechanism from thermal evaporation to chemical extraction. By introducing an organic solvent that selectively partitions alcohol into a separate phase, the process avoids the high energy requirement of water evaporation while achieving effective alcohol recovery.
2Manufacturing precision
If distillation is used to purify monoethylene glycol, then the alcohol can be separated, but solids may precipitate in distillation units causing operational problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the distillation step entirely by using liquid-liquid extraction. The organic solvent selectively extracts alcohol from the aqueous solution, and the extract can be processed to recover pure alcohol without passing through a distillation unit where solids would precipitate and cause operational issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The organic solvent acts as an intermediary that facilitates alcohol separation without requiring thermal processing. The solvent forms a separate phase enriched with alcohol, which can be processed further without the need for distillation, thereby avoiding solid precipitation problems.
3Manufacturing precision
If a two-step purification process with strong alkali and distillation is used, then divalent ions can be removed, but the process becomes more complex and requires larger chemical consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex two-step purification process with a single liquid-liquid extraction step. The organic solvent selectively extracts alcohol while leaving divalent ions in the aqueous phase, achieving purification without requiring strong alkali treatment or multiple processing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the purification mechanism from chemical treatment with strong alkali followed by distillation to physical-chemical extraction. The solvent's selective solubility properties enable ion removal and alcohol recovery in a single operation, simplifying the process and reducing chemical consumption.
4Quantity of substance
If high temperature distillation is used to recover monoethylene glycol, then the alcohol can be concentrated, but the high temperature may cause degradation of the monoethylene glycol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts alcohol at or near ambient temperatures using liquid-liquid extraction, avoiding high-temperature distillation entirely. The organic solvent selectively partitions alcohol into a separate phase without thermal input, preventing thermal degradation while achieving effective concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature distillation to ambient or low-temperature extraction. This parameter change eliminates thermal degradation risks while maintaining effective alcohol recovery through the solvent's temperature-independent selectivity.
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 approach reduces energy consumption and costs, prevents contamination, and facilitates efficient separation of alcohols without precipitation, enhancing the recovery process.
Implementation Method 1
combining the aqueous stream and the solvent stream; and recovering at least a portion of the alcohol by liquid-liquid extraction
Data Source
AI summary
A method of recovering an alcohol from an aqueous stream comprising: providing an aqueous stream comprising water and an alcohol; providing a solvent stream; combining the aqueous stream and the solvent stream; and recovering at least a portion of the alcohol by liquid-liquid extraction.