Azeotropic Distillation for Furfural Effluent Solvent Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating aqueous effluent streams from furfural production are ineffective in reducing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) due to the presence of organic solvents, which inhibit microbial growth and increase pollution levels.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a process of a process for treating aqueous effluent streams by using azeotropic distillation to separate and recover organic solvents such as MIBK and ISP, followed by biomethanation to further reduce COD and BOD.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional treatment methods are used on aqueous effluent streams containing organic solvents, then the treatment process can proceed, but the COD and BOD reduction is ineffective due to microbial inhibition

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of COD and BOD reductionVSAvoidmicrobial growth inhibition

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes organic solvents (MIBK, ISP, and furfural) from the aqueous effluent stream using azeotropic distillation before biological treatment. This extraction eliminates the harmful substances that inhibit microbial growth, thereby enabling effective COD and BOD reduction in subsequent biomethanation processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary removal of organic solvents through azeotropic distillation before subjecting the effluent to biological treatment. This preliminary action prevents microbial inhibition from occurring, ensuring that the subsequent biomethanation process can proceed effectively without the harmful effects of organic solvent contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If organic solvents are present in aqueous effluent streams, then the effluent can be processed, but pollution levels increase and biomethanation becomes ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebiomethanation efficiencyVSAvoidpollution levels

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful presence of organic solvents in effluent streams into a beneficial outcome by using azeotropic distillation to recover these solvents (MIBK, ISP, furfural) as valuable products. The harmful pollution is transformed into recoverable resources, while the cleaned effluent becomes suitable for effective biomethanation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards organic solvents from the aqueous effluent stream through azeotropic distillation while simultaneously recovering them as valuable products. This dual action of discarding harmful substances and recovering valuable materials eliminates pollution sources and enables effective biomethanation of the treated effluent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If azeotropic distillation is used to remove organic solvents, then COD and BOD reduction is achieved, but additional process steps are required

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCOD and BOD reduction effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of treatment process steps

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the solvent removal function with the COD and BOD reduction objective into a single integrated azeotropic distillation process. By combining these functions, the need for separate treatment steps is eliminated, reducing overall process complexity while achieving reliable pollutant reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The azeotropic distillation process performs multiple functions simultaneously: it removes organic solvents (MIBK, ISP, furfural) from the effluent, reduces COD and BOD levels, and prepares the stream for biomethanation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple separate treatment steps, simplifying the overall process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 method achieves a significant reduction in COD by 70-90% and BOD by 55-85%, enabling effective biomethanation and efficient recovery of organic solvents and furfural.

Implementation Method 1

the presently claimed invention provides a method of treatment of aqueous effluent stream obtained during production of furfural from lignocellulosic feedstocks. Especially, the method comprises a process for simultaneously distillation and recovery of organic solvents from aqueous effluent stream using an azeotropic distillation technique.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAzeotropic distillation: Distillation

Implementation Method 2

followed by biomethanation to further reduce COD and BOD

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiomethanation: Anaerobic Digestion

Data Source

PatentEP3464257B1A method of treatment of aqueous effluent

Publication Date: 2025.12.17 BASF SE

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of treatment of aqueous effluent stream obtained during pro- duction of furfural. The aqueous effluent stream containing organic solvents, furfural and water is subjected to azeotropic distillation to obtain a distillate stream and a treated effluent stream having lower BOD and COD valueswhich can be further reduced by biomethanation.