Fractionator System for Separating Solubilized Rubber from Co-Solvent Miscella

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies face challenges in efficiently separating solubilized rubber from co-solvent based miscella, particularly from non-Hevea plants where rubber is stored within plant cells, requiring additional processing to isolate rubber from other materials.

Innovation Solution

A fractionator system comprising multiple vessels with feed inlets, side and bottom outlets, and internal weirs is used to separate solubilized rubber from co-solvent based miscella into non-polar solvent viscous rubber and polar solvent solubilized resin phases, with a process involving multiple fractionators in series to achieve effective separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple fractionators in series are used to separate solubilized rubber from co-solvent based miscella, then the purity of rubber product is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of rubber productVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separation process is divided into multiple stages using a series of fractionators, where each fractionator performs a specific separation function. This segmentation allows progressive purification of rubber from the miscella, with each stage removing additional resin and polar solvent, thereby achieving high purity through incremental separation steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Co-solvents serve as intermediary substances that facilitate the separation process. These solvents selectively dissolve different components (rubber and resin) to different extents, enabling phase separation in each fractionator stage. The co-solvents act as mediators that allow controlled partitioning of components between phases

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple fractionators in series are used to separate solubilized rubber from co-solvent based miscella, then the productivity of rubber recovery is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of rubber recoveryVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The fractionators are arranged in series to enable continuous separation operations, where the output of one fractionator becomes the input of the next. This continuous flow system maintains constant separation action throughout the process, preventing idle time between stages and maximizing productivity through uninterrupted processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

Each fractionator performs preliminary separation of specific components before the material proceeds to the next stage. By pre-separating resin and polar solvent in early stages, the system prepares the miscella for subsequent purification steps, reducing the burden on later fractionators and optimizing overall processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system effectively separates solubilized rubber with reduced resin and polar solvent content, improving the efficiency of rubber recovery from non-Hevea plant sources by achieving high removal rates of polar solvent solubilized resin phases, resulting in a purified rubber product.

Implementation Method 1

the co-solvent based miscella separates to form (i) a non-polar solvent viscous rubber phase in a lower portion of the primary vessel and (ii) a polar solvent solubilized resin phase above the non-polar solvent viscous rubber phase

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity difference: Density Gradient