HMDA Extraction with Alcohol-Alkane Blends for Lower Distillation Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting 1,6-hexamethylenediamine from microbial fermentation broths are energy-intensive due to high water transfer to the organic extract phase, necessitating significant distillation energy consumption and reducing the process's efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A solvent mixture of monovalent alcohols with 4 to 7 carbon atoms and alkanes with 5 to 7 carbon atoms is used to extract 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, with the alkane content ranging from 2 to 50 wt.%, followed by distillation to separate the diamine from the solvent mixture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If monovalent alcohols are used as extractants, then extraction selectivity is improved, but water content in the organic phase increases leading to higher energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines monovalent alcohol with nonpolar solvent additives to create a mixed extractant system. This merging allows the alcohol component to maintain extraction selectivity for the diamine while the nonpolar additive component reduces water solubility in the organic phase, thereby lowering distillation energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the polarity parameter of the organic extractant by adding nonpolar solvents (alkanes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons) to the alcoholic extractant. This parameter change in solvent polarity reduces the water content in the organic phase while preserving diamine extraction efficiency, thus reducing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If nonpolar solvents are used to reduce water content, then energy consumption is reduced, but partition coefficient for polar diamine decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges nonpolar solvent components with polar diamine extraction capabilities through the alcohol additive. This combination allows the system to achieve low water content (reducing energy consumption) while maintaining sufficient partition coefficient for polar diamine extraction, as the alcohol component remains active in recognizing and extracting the polar diamine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite extractant system combining nonpolar solvents with alcoholic additives. This composite material approach allows simultaneous optimization of water content (for energy efficiency) and partition coefficient (for extraction efficiency), as the composite system leverages the low polarity of nonpolar solvents and the diamine-affinity of alcoholic components.
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 reduces the water content in the organic phase, leading to a lower energy demand for distillation and surprisingly enhances the partition coefficient, improving the extraction efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
extracting the HMDA-containing aqueous solution with a solvent mixture (i) at least one monovalent alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atoms and (ii) at least one alkane having 5 to 7 carbon atoms
Implementation Method 2
distilling the HMDA-containing solvent mixture and separating the HMDA from the solvent mixture
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for separating 1,6-hexamethylenediamine (HMDA) from an aqueous solution, comprising the steps: a) providing HMDA-containing aqueous solution, wherein said aqueous solution is a fermentation broth, b) extracting the HMDA-containing aqueous solution with a solvent mixture (i) at least one monovalent alcohol having 4 to 7 carbon atoms and (ii) at least one alkane having 5 to 7 carbon atoms, wherein the alkane content of the solvent mixture is in the range from 2 wt% to 50 wt% based on the total weight of all alcohols and alkanes present in the solvent mixture; c) obtaining an HMDA-containing solvent mixture as separatephase, and d) distilling the HMDA-containing solvent mixture and separating the HMDA from the solvent mixture.