Demulsifier Use in Aromatic Nitro Wastewater Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processes for purifying crude aromatic nitro compounds from nitration reactions are inefficient, leading to incomplete phase separation, high energy and cost demands, and the need for complex thermal and oxidative treatments, which can harm biological wastewater treatment plants and increase environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A process involving multiple wash stages with demulsifiers to enhance phase separation, allowing for the direct biological treatment of wastewaters after optional stripping and ammonia removal, minimizing the amount of wastewater requiring thermolytic decomposition and reducing corrosion risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional washing operations are used to remove organic constituents from wastewater, then some purification is achieved, but phase separation is incomplete and additional complex thermal and oxidative treatments are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a demulsifier as an intermediary substance that facilitates complete phase separation between organic and aqueous phases during washing operations. The demulsifier acts as a mediator that breaks emulsions and enables clean separation, eliminating the need for subsequent complex thermal and oxidative treatment stages while achieving complete purification.
2Manufacturing precision
If acidic wastewaters are produced from washing operations, then organic constituents are removed, but corrosion problems arise in downstream purification stages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter (pH) of the wastewater by using alkaline washing operations instead of acidic ones. This parameter change eliminates corrosion problems in downstream purification stages while still achieving effective removal of organic constituents through the washing process.
3Manufacturing precision
If thermolytic decomposition is used to treat wastewaters, then organic compounds are degraded, but energy consumption and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts organic compounds from the aqueous phase during the washing operation itself through complete phase separation, rather than degrading them later through energy-intensive thermolytic decomposition. This extraction approach eliminates the need for subsequent thermal treatment while achieving the same purification goal.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple washing stages are performed to achieve complete purification, then purification quality improves, but process time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The demulsifier enables complete phase separation to occur in a single washing stage rather than requiring multiple sequential stages. This intermediary substance accelerates the separation process, achieving the same purification quality faster and reducing both process time and operational costs.
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 achieves rapid and complete phase separation, reducing the need for thermal and oxidative treatments, enabling direct biological wastewater treatment and minimizing environmental impact while lowering operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the crude aromatic nitro compound (N-in) with an aqueous phase (W-in) and then separating the phases to obtain an organic phase (N-res) and an aqueous phase (W-res), wherein at least one demulsifier (D) is present in one or more of the wash stages (a)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for purifying crude aromatic nitro compounds which originate from the nitration of aromatic compounds, comprising the single or multiple performance of the following wash stage (a):(a) contacting the crude aromatic nitro compound (N-in) with an aqueous phase (W-res) and then separating the phases to obtain an organic phase (N-res) and an aqueous phase (W-res),wherein at least one demulsifier (D) is present in one or more of the wash stages (a).