Ionic Liquid Cation Recovery via Alkali Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for recovering the cation component of ionic liquids are energy-intensive and inefficient, leading to partial decomposition of the cation component during water distillation and low recovery rates.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing of an aqueous solution of a neutralized-salt type ionic liquid with a water-insoluble organic solvent to create a two-phase separated liquid, followed by the addition of a strong alkali to regenerate the cation component into a neutral substance, which is then separated into the organic phase for recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If water distillation is used to recover ionic liquid, then ionic liquid can be recovered, but cation component is partially decomposed and recovery rate is lowered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the recovery method from thermal distillation to chemical extraction using organic solvents and strong alkalis. This parameter change avoids thermal decomposition of the cation component while achieving effective separation and recovery of the ionic liquid, thereby improving both recovery rate and cation component stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an organic solvent as an intermediary substance to facilitate the separation of the ionic liquid from the aqueous solution. The organic solvent acts as a mediator that selectively extracts the ionic liquid components, enabling recovery without direct thermal processing that would cause cation decomposition.
2Reliability
If water distillation is used to recover ionic liquid, then ionic liquid can be recovered, but large amount of energy is consumed and energy efficiency is very poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal-mechanical distillation system with a chemical extraction system using organic solvents and strong alkalis. This substitution eliminates the need for high-energy heating and distillation processes, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining effective ionic liquid recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent fundamentally changes the energy parameter from high-temperature thermal processing to ambient or low-temperature chemical processing. By using strong alkalis to regenerate cations and organic solvents for extraction, the process achieves effective recovery with minimal energy input, improving energy efficiency dramatically.
3Reliability
If conventional recovery method is used, then ionic liquid can be recovered, but recovery process is complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential components needed for recovery: organic solvents for separation and strong alkalis for cation regeneration. By removing unnecessary complex equipment and steps from conventional distillation methods, the process becomes simpler and more cost-effective while maintaining recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent simplifies the recovery process by changing from multi-stage thermal distillation to a two-step chemical process: (1) extraction with organic solvent, and (2) regeneration with strong alkali. This parameter change reduces process complexity and equipment requirements while achieving effective ionic liquid recovery.
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 allows for the inexpensive and simple recovery of the cation component of ionic liquids with high efficiency and low energy consumption, enabling the regeneration of ionic liquids by adding an anion component to the recovered cation component.
Implementation Method 1
mixing the two-phase separated liquid with a strong alkali soluble in water so that an amount of the strong alkali is 20% or more with respect to water in the aqueous phase in terms of weight ratio to regenerate a cation of the neutralized-salt type ionic liquid present in the aqueous phase into a neutral substance
Implementation Method 2
mixing an aqueous solution of a neutralized-salt type ionic liquid with an organic solvent incompatible with water to prepare a two-phase separated liquid of an aqueous phase and an organic phase
Data Source
AI summary
A method for recovering a cation component of a neutralized-salt type ionic liquid, characterized by comprising a first step, in which an aqueous solution of the neutralized-salt type ionic liquid is mixed with a water-incompatible organic solvent to prepare a liquid separating into two phases, i.e., an aqueous phase and an organic phase, a second step, in which the liquid separating into two phases is mixed with a water-soluble strong alkali so that the amount of the strong alkali is 20% by mass or larger with respect to the water contained in the aqueous phase, thereby regenerating the cations of the neutralized-salt type ionic liquid present in the aqueous phase, into a neutral substance and moving the neutral substance from the aqueous phase to the organic phase, and a third step, in which the organic phase containing the neutral substance is recovered by a liquid-separating operation.