Formic Acid MTHF Separation via Water Mediator Distillation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The separation of formic acid from methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) is hindered by the formation of an azeotrope, which requires high energy and costly equipment to break, making it economically inefficient to recycle MTHF and recover both formic acid and levulinic acid as valuable products.

Innovation Solution

Adding water to the distillation process of a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF, forming azeotropes with both MTHF and formic acid, allows for their separation by maintaining a monophasic solution and optimizing energy consumption, enabling efficient recovery and recycling of MTHF.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional distillation is used to separate formic acid from MTHF, then the azeotrope can be broken, but high energy consumption and costly equipment are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation purityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Water is introduced as an intermediary substance into the distillation process. The water forms a ternary azeotrope with formic acid and MTHF, acting as a mediator that alters the vapor-liquid equilibrium relationships. This enables separation at lower temperatures and energy consumption compared to breaking the binary formic acid-MTHF azeotrope directly through conventional means

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple distillations are performed to break the azeotrope, then separation can be achieved, but equipment cost and process complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation purityVSAvoidequipment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the compositional parameters of the distillation system by adding water. This transforms the separation problem from breaking a binary azeotrope (formic acid-MTHF) to utilizing a ternary system (formic acid-MTHF-water) with different azeotropic characteristics. The parameter change enables single-stage or reduced-stage distillation compared to multiple distillations would require

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 separates MTHF from formic acid, allowing for the cost-efficient recovery and recycling of MTHF, while maintaining high material balance and product purity, thus overcoming the energy and cost challenges associated with breaking azeotropes.

Implementation Method 1

Adding water to the distillation process of a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF, forming azeotropes with both MTHF and formic acid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAzeotrope formation:

Implementation Method 2

subjecting a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF to distillation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Data Source

PatentUS10407373B2Process for the separation of formic acid from methyltetrahydrofuran

Publication Date: 2019.09.10 GEORGIA PACIFIC CORP

AI summary

The invention relates to a process to separate formic acid from methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) said process comprising subjecting a composition comprising formic acid and MTHF to distillation, characterized in that the process comprises adding water to said distillation. This allows for cost-efficient recovery and recycling of MTHF, for example in process to produce and recover formic acid from a biomass hydrolysate.