Diol Distillation Purification for Mixed 1,3- and 1,4-Butanediol
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing purification processes for 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BG) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) produced from renewable sources are not suitable for each other due to different impurity contents and physical properties, requiring separate and complex purification methods, which are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A single process involving distillation operations is used to simultaneously purify 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO from their mixture, achieving high purity levels (>98% for 1,4-BDO and >99% for 1,3-BG) by removing solvents, heavy, and light fractions, and specific fractions containing each diol, utilizing structured fill columns and controlled pressures to minimize thermal degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If separate purification processes are used for 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO, then each diol can be purified to required purity levels, but the process complexity and production time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the purification of 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO into a single integrated distillation process. The mixture containing both diols and impurities is subjected to one distillation step that simultaneously separates water, heavy fraction, light fraction, and the two diols. This merging of previously separate purification processes reduces overall process complexity while maintaining the required purity levels (>98% for 1,3-BG and >98% for 1,4-BDO).
Solution Approach 2:
The distillation process segments the complex mixture into distinct fractions based on boiling points: water (first to distill), heavy fraction, light fraction, 1,4-BDO fraction, and 1,3-BG fraction (last to distill). This segmentation allows each component to be separated and purified in a systematic manner within a single process flow, achieving high purity without requiring multiple separate purification units.
2Manufacturing precision
If separate purification processes are used for 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO, then each diol can be purified to required purity levels, but production time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the purification of 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO into a single integrated distillation process. The mixture containing both diols and impurities is subjected to one distillation step that simultaneously separates water, heavy fraction, light fraction, and the two diols. This merging of previously separate purification processes reduces overall process complexity while maintaining the required purity levels (>98% for 1,3-BG and >98% for 1,4-BDO).
Solution Approach 2:
The distillation process operates continuously to separate all components from the fermentation mixture in an uninterrupted sequence. The systematic distillation sequence (water → heavy fraction → light fraction → 1,4-BDO → 1,3-BG) maintains continuous useful action throughout the purification process, eliminating idle time between separate purification operations and reducing total production time.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If fermentation processes are used to produce diols from renewable sources, then environmental sustainability improves, but impurity content increases requiring complex purification
Solution Approach 1:
The distillation process utilizes parameter changes, specifically temperature and pressure variations, to separate components based on their different boiling points. By controlling the distillation parameters systematically, the process effectively separates fermentation impurities from the desired diols, achieving >98% purity for both 1,3-BG and 1,4-BDO while maintaining the environmental benefits of fermentation-based production from renewable sources.
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 process achieves high purity levels of both diols efficiently, reducing production costs and downtime, and allows for flexible production ratios adaptable to market demands, overcoming the limitations of separate purification campaigns.
Implementation Method 1
removing from that mixture, by one or more distillation operations, i. the solvent, ii. a heavy fraction, iii. a light fraction, iv. a fraction including 1,4-BDO
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the separation of 1,3 and 1,4-butanediol from a mixture thereof.