DMA Removal in Sucralose Synthesis via Side Stream Loop
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Solution Overview
Problem
The economic and environmental challenges in the sucralose manufacturing process arise from the conversion of dimethyl formamide (DMF) to dimethyl amine (DMA), which is costly and harmful to biological waste treatment systems, necessitating effective removal and recovery of DMA to maintain process efficiency and minimize carbohydrate degradation.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a side stream loop with adjustable temperature, pH, and pressure conditions is implemented to remove DMA before, during, or after deacylation in the sucralose-6-acylate reaction vessel, minimizing carbohydrate degradation and optimizing sucralose yield by controlling the flow rate and loop volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If strong base is added to free volatile DMA by addition of strong base, then DMA removal is achieved, but carbohydrate degradation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The process divides the treatment into separate streams: a main stream for carbohydrate processing and a side stream for DMA removal. The side stream is extracted from the main stream, treated separately with strong base to free DMA, and then recombined. This segmentation allows DMA removal without exposing the entire carbohydrate stream to degrading conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
A side stream containing DMA and carbohydrates is extracted from the main reaction stream. This side stream is then treated specifically to remove DMA through base addition and distillation, separating the harmful DMA removal step from the carbohydrate preservation step in the main stream.
2Loss of substance
If DMA is removed by distillation, then DMA separation is achieved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Base is added to the side stream before distillation to convert DMA into its volatile free base form. This preliminary chemical modification enables more efficient DMA separation during subsequent distillation, reducing the energy required compared to direct distillation of the salt form.
Solution Approach 2:
The process changes the chemical state of DMA from non-volatile salt form to volatile free base form by adjusting pH. This parameter change enables DMA to be removed via distillation at lower energy costs, as the volatile form can be separated more efficiently from the carbohydrate stream.
3Quantity of substance
If deacylation is conducted at high pH, then DMA formation is maximized, but sucralose yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The process segments the high pH treatment to only the side stream containing DMA, rather than treating the entire main stream at high pH. This allows DMA to be formed and removed efficiently in the side stream while the main stream maintains conditions optimal for sucralose yield.
Solution Approach 2:
The side stream is continuously circulated back through the main stream after DMA removal. This feedback loop ensures that any carbohydrates or intermediates in the side stream are returned to the main reaction mixture, maintaining overall process efficiency and sucralose yield while enabling selective DMA 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 approach allows for efficient DMA removal and recovery, reducing the formation of side products and maintaining high sucralose yield, with DMA being converted back to DMF for recycling, thus enhancing the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the process.
Implementation Method 1
The DMA is purified and concentrated by distillation and reacted with CO to reform DMF for recycle to main DMF purification systems
Implementation Method 2
reacted with CO to reform DMF for recycle to main DMF purification systems
Data Source
AI summary
A process for removing dimethylamine (DMA) before and/or during and/or after deacylation in a reaction vessel of a feed stream comprising a sucralose-6-acylate resulting from the chlorination of a sucrose-6-acylate in the presence of dimethyl formamide (DMF), wherein the deacylation is conducted at a first set of conditions of temperature, pH and pressure, the process comprising: (a) providing a side stream loop from and to the reaction vessel; (b) adjusting the conditions of one or more of temperature, pH, and pressure in the loop, and setting the flow rate through the loop, to remove DMA while minimising carbohydrate degradation.