Butadiene Purification via Multi-Stage Compression and Distillation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying conjugated diolefin byproducts from anaerobic fermentation processes are limited by the presence of impurities such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, and organic bio-byproducts, which complicates the recovery and purification of chemicals like 1,3-butadiene and isoprene.
Innovation Solution
A system involving multi-stage compression and distillation, followed by adsorption, is employed to separate and purify conjugated diolefin from fermenter off-gas, utilizing a first distillation zone to remove bio-byproduct impurities and water vapor, and a second distillation zone to remove volatile impurities, achieving high purity levels of the diolefin.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional purification methods are used to remove impurities from fermenter off-gas, then impurity removal is achieved, but the process becomes complex and energy-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The purification process is divided into distinct functional stages: compression stage, first distillation zone for water vapor and CO2 removal, adsorption stage for organic impurities, and second distillation zone for volatile impurity removal. Each stage targets specific impurity types, making the complex purification process more manageable and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
An adsorbent material is introduced as an intermediary substance to selectively remove organic bio-byproduct impurities from the gas stream between the first and second distillation zones. This intermediary component facilitates the separation process by capturing specific impurities that would be difficult to remove through distillation alone
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple distillation zones and adsorption steps are used to achieve high purity, then purification effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes temperature and pressure parameter changes across different stages: compression increases pressure to facilitate condensation, the first distillation zone operates at temperatures to remove water vapor and CO2, adsorption occurs at controlled temperatures for organic impurity capture, and the second distillation zone uses temperature gradients to remove volatile impurities. These parameter optimizations reduce overall energy consumption while maintaining high purity
Solution Approach 2:
The compression and first distillation steps perform preliminary removal of bulk impurities (water vapor and CO2) before the more energy-intensive adsorption and second distillation stages. This preliminary action reduces the load on subsequent stages, thereby reducing total energy consumption while achieving the required purity level
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 purifies conjugated diolefin to greater than 90% purity, reducing energy consumption and overcoming the challenges of impurity removal in anaerobic fermentation byproducts, making it suitable for large-scale biofuel production.
Implementation Method 1
compressing the fermenter off-gas in a multi-stage compression system to produce a compressed stream
Implementation Method 2
feeding the compressed stream into a first distillation zone for the removal of bio-byproduct impurity and water vapor
Implementation Method 3
contacting an overhead vapor stream produced from the bio-byproduct impurity and water removal distillation zone with an adsorbent to produce a dried overhead stream
Implementation Method 4
feeding the dried overhead stream into a second distillation zone for the removal of volatile impurity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to systems for isolating and/or purifying byproducts of anaerobic fermentation processes, and methods of using same. In one embodiment, gas compositions comprising conjugated diolefins (e.g., 1,3-biobutadiene and/or isoprene) and various amounts of impurities (e.g., water vapor from fermentation media, carbon dioxide from microbe respiration, and organic bio-byproducts such as propanol) are produced in a fermentation process. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more compressors and/or one or more distillers suitable for low-temperature separation of the conjugated olefin(s) from a substantial amount of the impurities in the gas composition.