Inert Gas Stripping for Ester-Based Compound Purification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steam stripping processes for recovering ester-based compounds result in wastewater generation, alcohol oxidation, and the need for multiple purification steps, making them environmentally unfriendly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A stripping method using an inert gas, such as helium or nitrogen, under controlled pressure and temperature to remove volatile components like alcohol from a mixture of cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid ester-based compounds, allowing for the recovery of high purity ester-based compounds without oxidation and wastewater production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If steam stripping process is used to remove alcohol from ester-based compound mixture, then alcohol removal efficiency is improved, but wastewater is generated and the process becomes environmentally unfriendly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert gas stripping using nitrogen or other inert gases to replace steam stripping. The inert gas flows through the ester-based compound mixture to remove alcohol and water vapor without generating liquid wastewater. The gas stream carries volatile components away, achieving alcohol removal while avoiding the harmful wastewater byproduct of steam stripping.
2Manufacturing precision
If steam stripping process is used to remove alcohol from ester-based compound mixture, then alcohol removal is achieved, but the ester-based compound is oxidized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inert gas atmosphere (nitrogen, argon, or other inert gases) to prevent oxidation of the ester-based compound during the stripping process. The inert gas displaces oxygen and creates a non-oxidizing environment, allowing alcohol removal through volatilization without causing oxidation reactions that would degrade the ester-based compound.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple purification processes are employed to purify ester-based compound, then purification effectiveness is improved, but process complexity and equipment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines alcohol removal and water removal into a single inert gas stripping step. The inert gas simultaneously strips both volatile components in one operation, eliminating the need for separate alcohol removal and water removal steps. This merging of functions reduces process complexity and equipment requirements while maintaining high purification effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The inert gas stripping process serves multiple functions simultaneously: it removes alcohol, removes water vapor, prevents oxidation, and avoids wastewater generation. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple specialized purification steps with a single versatile process, reducing overall process complexity while achieving comprehensive purification.
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 simplifies the purification process, reduces equipment costs, and enables the reuse of recovered volatile components, such as alcohol, while maintaining environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a mixture including a cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid ester-based compound with an inert gas under a relative pressure of -1.0 to -0.5 barg to remove a volatile component from the mixture
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a stripping method capable of recovering, by an environmentally friendly method, a high-purity ester-based compound without concern over the oxidation of an ester-based compound from a mixture containing the ester-based compound. The stripping method has advantages of generating no wastewater, enabling equipment costs to be reduced by simplifying the process, removing concern over the oxidation of an ester-based compound during the process, and enabling the reuse of the components recovered in the process.