IPA Purification Flow with Integrated Propylene Gas Cleanup

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing isopropyl alcohol (IPA) preparation processes require separate columns for purifying raw material propylene, leading to increased energy consumption, facility costs, and operating costs due to the presence of impurities like unsaturated hydrocarbons and ethanol.

Innovation Solution

Integrate the purification of raw material propylene and unreacted propylene in the gas purification step by feeding raw material propylene at a higher position than unreacted propylene in the gas purification tower, utilizing a system with absorption, flash, and gas separation towers to achieve simultaneous purification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a separate raw material purification unit with two columns is installed upstream of the reaction unit, then the purity of raw material propylene is improved, but energy consumption increases due to the use of steam and facility costs increase due to the addition of columns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of raw material propyleneVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the purification of raw material propylene and unreacted propylene into a single gas purification unit. The gas purification unit receives both the reaction product containing unreacted propylene and the raw material propylene, and performs simultaneous purification in one integrated system rather than requiring separate purification units for each stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas purification unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it purifies both raw material propylene and unreacted propylene, separates impurities from both streams, and produces purified propylene for recycling. This multi-functional unit replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized purification columns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a separate raw material purification unit with two columns is installed upstream of the reaction unit, then the purity of raw material propylene is improved, but facility costs and operating costs increase due to the addition of columns

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurity of raw material propyleneVSAvoidfacility costs and operating costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the purification of raw material propylene and unreacted propylene into a single gas purification unit. The gas purification unit receives both the reaction product containing unreacted propylene and the raw material propylene, and performs simultaneous purification in one integrated system rather than requiring separate purification units for each stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The gas purification unit is designed to perform multiple functions: it purifies both raw material propylene and unreacted propylene, separates impurities from both streams, and produces purified propylene for recycling. This multi-functional unit replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized purification columns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If raw material propylene and unreacted propylene are purified separately, then the purification process is simpler to design, but energy consumption increases and additional columns are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of purification process designVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the purification of raw material propylene and unreacted propylene into a single gas purification unit. The gas purification unit receives both the reaction product containing unreacted propylene and the raw material propylene, and performs simultaneous purification in one integrated system rather than requiring separate purification units for each stream.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 integration reduces the need for additional columns, lowers facility and operating costs, and minimizes energy consumption while achieving high purity IPA by efficiently purifying both propylene streams.

Implementation Method 1

a gas purification unit (200) for separating gas components including unreacted propylene

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

an IPA purification unit (300) for removing organic materials, n-propyl alcohol, and water, from the reaction product, from which the gas components are separated, through distillation in a plurality of distillation columns

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDistillation: Distillation

Data Source

PatentEP4692035A1Method of preparing isopropyl alcohol

Publication Date: 2026.02.11 LG CHEM LTD

Figure 1~3
Figure 4

AI summary

The present invention provides a method of preparing isopropyl alcohol (IPA), and the method includes (S1) reacting propylene and water in a reaction unit to obtain a reaction product containing isopropyl alcohol (IPA); (S2) feeding the reaction product to a gas purification unit and separating gas components including unreacted propylene; and (S3) feeding the reaction product from which the gas components are separated to an IPA purification unit and obtaining purified isopropyl alcohol, wherein raw material propylene may be additionally fed to the gas purification unit, and the raw material propylene and the unreacted propylene may be purified.