Neopentyl Glycol Hydrogenation With HPNE Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for preparing neopentyl glycol result in environmental pollution and increased production costs due to the disposal of catalyst salts and high-value hydroxypivalic acid-neopentyl glycol ester (HPNE) by-products, and there is a need for a more efficient and cost-effective process.
Innovation Solution
A method involving aldol condensation, extraction, saponification, and hydrogenation steps to recover and reuse the catalyst and HPNE, including aldol extraction, saponification, and hydrogenation reactors, along with purification columns to separate and recover valuable products.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If catalyst salt is discarded as waste water, then environmental pollution is avoided, but production costs increase due to continuous addition of new catalyst
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers catalyst salt from the aqueous phase by adjusting pH to precipitate the catalyst, then separates and reuses it in the aldol condensation reaction. This eliminates the need to discard catalyst salt as waste water while avoiding continuous addition of new catalyst, thus reducing production costs without compromising environmental safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful catalyst salt (formed by Cannizzaro side reaction) into a beneficial resource by precipitating it through pH adjustment and reusing it as catalyst. This transforms the harmful by-product into a valuable asset, simultaneously addressing environmental pollution and production cost issues.
2Ease of manufacture
If HPNE is discarded with high-boiling point by-products, then purification is simplified, but high value-added product is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the purification process into distinct stages: first separating HPNE from high-boiling point by-products through fractional distillation, then separately handling the catalyst salt recovery. This segmentation allows efficient recovery of HPNE as a high value-added product while maintaining purification effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding HPNE with waste, the patent recovers it through fractional distillation and utilizes it as a high value-added product. This eliminates the loss of HPNE while maintaining a simplified purification process, addressing both ease of manufacture and substance recovery requirements.
3Loss of energy
If catalyst salt is reused, then production costs decrease, but catalyst activity may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful catalyst salt into a beneficial resource by precipitating it through pH adjustment and reusing it as catalyst. This transformation maintains catalyst activity while reducing production costs, as the recovered catalyst salt is effectively reused in the aldol condensation reaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter to precipitate catalyst salt from the aqueous phase, enabling its recovery and reuse. This parameter change allows the catalyst to be regenerated and reused, maintaining its activity while reducing the need for continuous addition of new catalyst, thus lowering production costs.
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 reduces environmental pollution and production costs by recycling catalysts and converting HPNE into a high-value product, improving the economic feasibility of neopentyl glycol production.
Implementation Method 1
supplying the first reaction product to an aldol extraction column and bringing the first reaction product into contact with an extractant to obtain an extract including hydroxypivaldehyde and a raffinate including a catalyst salt
Implementation Method 2
supplying the raffinate to a saponification reactor to reduce the catalyst salt to a catalyst
Implementation Method 3
performing distillation to obtain a lower discharge stream including hydroxypivaldehyde and an upper discharge stream including unreacted isobutyl aldehyde and the catalyst
Implementation Method 4
supplying the lower discharge stream from the aldol purification column to a hydrogenation reactor and performing a hydrogenation reaction to obtain a second reaction product including neopentyl glycol
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for preparing neopentyl glycol including: performing an aldol condensation reaction to obtain a first reaction product including hydroxypivaldehyde; bringing the first reaction product into contact with an extractant and distilling it to obtain an extract and a raffinate; supplying the raffinate to a saponification reactor to reduce the raffinate with a catalyst; supplying the extract and the catalyst to an aldol purification column and distilling them to be separated into an upper discharge stream and a lower discharge stream; supplying the lower discharge stream from the aldol purification column to a hydrogenation reactor to obtain a second reaction product including neopentyl glycol, and obtaining neopentyl glycol from the second reaction product.