Furanic Compound Separation from DMSO via Liquid-Liquid Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating furan compounds like 5-HMF from dimethoxysulfoxide (DMSO) using liquid-liquid extraction result in impure extracts with high DMSO content, leading to increased operating and investment costs due to solubility issues and delayed crystallization, which hampers industrial scalability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a counter-extraction step with water to enhance the purity of furan compounds, reducing DMSO content, and optimizing crystallization conditions, allowing for higher temperature and lower volume crystallization, thereby improving yield and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If liquid-liquid extraction is used to separate furan compounds from DMSO, then separation is achieved, but the extract contains high DMSO content reducing purity
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential stages: initial extraction of furan compounds from DMSO, followed by counter-extraction with water to remove DMSO from the organic phase. This segmentation allows each stage to optimize for a specific function - first recovery of product, then removal of contaminant - achieving high purity without sacrificing yield
Solution Approach 2:
Water serves as an intermediary substance in the counter-extraction step. It selectively interacts with DMSO in the organic extract, forming a separate aqueous phase that carries DMSO away while leaving the furan compound in the organic phase. This intermediary enables selective removal of the unwanted substance without affecting the desired product
2Quantity of substance
If distillation is used to remove water from reaction medium, then water elimination is achieved, but DMSO and furan compounds concentrate at column bottom causing degradation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using distillation which concentrates all non-volatile components together, the invention uses liquid-liquid extraction to selectively take out the furan compound from the DMSO-water mixture. The organic solvent selectively dissolves the furan compound while leaving DMSO and water in the aqueous phase, avoiding the degradation that occurs when DMSO and furan compounds are concentrated together at the bottom of a distillation column
3Manufacturing precision
If crystallization is performed on extract containing DMSO, then furan compound crystallization is achieved, but solubility increases and crystallization is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The counter-extraction with water is performed as a preliminary action before crystallization. This removes DMSO from the organic extract in advance, eliminating its solvent effect that would otherwise increase furan compound solubility and delay crystallization. By performing this purification step beforehand, the subsequent crystallization proceeds rapidly and efficiently
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 process achieves purity levels of 95% or more for furan compounds, reducing DMSO content, and enables more favorable crystallization conditions, leading to lower energy consumption and investment costs, thus enhancing the overall separation efficiency and industrial viability.
Implementation Method 1
a step b) of extracting the mixture produced in step a) by an organic solvent chosen from chlorinated solvents, ethers, ketones and aromatics, producing an aqueous raffinate enriched in DMSO and an organic extract intermediate enriched in furan compound(s)
Implementation Method 2
a step c) of counter-extracting the intermediate organic extract enriched in furan compound(s) produced in step b) with added water, producing an aqueous intermediate raffinate enriched in DMSO and a purified organic extract
Implementation Method 3
d) optionally, a step d) of crystallization of the furan compound(s) contained in the purified organic extract produced in step c), followed by filtration
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a process for separating furanic compounds from a feedstock additionally containing dimethoxysulfoxide (DMSO). These furanic compounds are in particular 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), 2,5-furanedicarboxylic acid (FDCA) or dimethyl 2,5-furandicarboxylate (DMFDCA). The process successively comprises a) bringing the feedstock into contact with water originating from step c), then b) a liquid-liquid extraction with an organic solvent followed by a back extraction c) by the water added in order to obtain an organic extract rich in furanic compounds. The extract may then be subjected to a crystallization step d) and then a filtration in order to obtain the solid furanic compound. The water-rich or solvent-rich effluents are advantageously recycled respectively to the back extraction and the extraction.