Azeotropic Distillation for Concentrating 3-Hydroxy-2,2-dimethylpropanal
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods face challenges in efficiently concentrating an aqueous solution of 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl propanal (HPA) and its dimer due to the azeotropic relationship between HPA and water, making it difficult to separate water from the solution using distillation, which is industrially disadvantageous and affects reaction efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method involving azeotropic distillation using alcohols such as 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol, and 1-hexanol as azeotropic agents in a distillation column to separate water from the aqueous solution containing HPA, allowing for the recovery of concentrated HPA as a bottom liquid, with the azeotropic agent being reused.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If distillation is used to separate water from aqueous HPA solution, then water removal is attempted, but separation is inefficient due to azeotropic relationship between HPA and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third substance (another compound) as an intermediary to mediate the separation between HPA and water. This intermediary forms a ternary azeotropic system that allows water to be removed while HPA remains in the bottom product, breaking the binary azeotropic barrier between HPA and water alone
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the compositional parameters of the system by adding a third component, transforming the binary azeotropic system into a ternary system. This parameter change (adding a new substance) fundamentally alters the phase behavior and enables separation that was impossible in the original binary system
2Device complexity
If conventional distillation is used, then simple equipment is required, but HPA loss in distillate increases due to azeotropic composition
Solution Approach 1:
A third substance is introduced as a mediator that preferentially associates with water in the vapor phase, allowing HPA to be retained in the liquid phase at higher concentrations. This intermediary enables the distillation process to overcome the azeotropic limitation without complex equipment modifications
3Loss of substance
If the filtrate is reused as intermediate product, then waste reduction is achieved, but reaction efficiency deteriorates due to high water content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water from the filtrate using azeotropic distillation with a third substance. This extraction process removes the harmful water component while retaining the valuable HPA and dimer, enabling the concentrated filtrate to be reused without compromising reaction efficiency
4Productivity
If water is removed from filtrate, then reaction efficiency is improved, but separation difficulty increases due to azeotropic relationship
Solution Approach 1:
The third substance acts as a mediator that facilitates water removal by forming a volatile azeotrope with water. This intermediary enables efficient water separation at moderate temperatures and pressures, making the process industrially feasible while improving reaction efficiency through water removal
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 effectively minimizes the content of HPA in the distillate, enabling the reuse of the concentrated HPA as a raw material or intermediate product, improving industrial efficiency by breaking the azeotropic composition of HPA and water, thus overcoming the limitations of previous separation techniques.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting a mixed solution of an aqueous solution containing at least 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl propanal and/or a dimer thereof and an azeotropic agent to azeotropic distillation in a distillation column to distil off water and the azeotropic agent from the mixed solution
Implementation Method 2
distil off water and the azeotropic agent from the mixed solution
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for concentrating an aqueous solution containing at least 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl propanal and/or a dimer thereof, which includes subjecting a mixed solution of an aqueous solution containing at least 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl propanal and/or a dimer thereof and an azeotropic agent to azeotropic distillation in a distillation column to distil off water and the azeotropic agent from the mixed solution, wherein the mixed solution is prepared by adding, as the azeotropic agent, at least one selected from the group consisting of 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-propanol, 1-pentanol and 1-hexanol to the aqueous solution.