Ethanolamine Purification via pH-Adjusted Distillation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for purifying ethanolamine from fermentation compositions are inefficient due to its non-volatile nature in its protonated form, causing it to be distilled preferentially with other solvents, leading to low recovery and purity.
Innovation Solution
Adding a base to deprotonate ethanolamine, adjusting the pH to 9 or higher, and using distillation to separate and purify it, which increases its volatility and allows for effective removal from the fermentation composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If distillation is used to purify ethanolamine from fermentation composition, then purification can be achieved, but ethanolamine is distilled preferentially with other solvents leading to low recovery and purity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of ethanolamine by adjusting the pH of the fermentation composition to basic conditions (pH > 7). This converts ethanolamine from its protonated non-volatile form to its deprotonated volatile form, enabling selective distillation. The pH adjustment is the key parameter change that resolves the contradiction between purification efficiency and ethanolamine recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition through distillation to separate ethanolamine from the fermentation composition. By first converting ethanolamine to its volatile base form through pH adjustment, the process enables ethanolamine to transition from liquid/non-volatile state to vapor state during distillation, allowing efficient separation and recovery.
2Productivity
If base is added to deprotonate ethanolamine and adjust pH to 9 or higher, then volatility increases and distillation becomes effective, but the process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by adjusting pH to basic conditions (pH ≥ 9) to convert ethanolamine from non-volatile protonated form to volatile deprotonated form. This single parameter change enables effective distillation and significantly improves purification rate without requiring complex equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the purification process into two simple sequential steps: (1) adjusting pH to basic conditions to deprotonate ethanolamine, and (2) performing distillation to separate and recover ethanolamine. This segmentation simplifies the overall process while maintaining high productivity.
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 achieves high purity and yield of ethanolamine, reduces impurity precipitation, and lowers distillation temperatures and pressures, minimizing degradation and corrosion, resulting in a more efficient purification process.
Implementation Method 1
A base is added to the fermentation composition to deprotonate at least some ethanolamine molecules in the fermentation composition
Implementation Method 2
removing the ethanolamine from the fermentation composition by distillation
Implementation Method 3
removing the ethanolamine from the fermentation composition by distillation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for purifying ethanolamine from a fermentation composition and products thereof.