Oligo Ethylene Glycol Methyl Ether Borate Reactive Distillation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional processes for producing oligo ethylene glycol methyl ether borate require high energy demand, high capital costs, and complex process control due to the need for large distillation columns and high reflux ratios, leading to inefficient production of high-purity borate.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a two-step method where boric acid and oligo ethylene glycol monomethyl ether are first reacted in a reactor to form a raw product, then fully converted in a reactive distillation device with controlled reflux and reboiling, allowing for efficient separation and purification of the borate product.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional distillation columns with multiple side draws are used to produce high-purity borate, then product purity is improved, but energy demand and capital costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distillation process is divided into two separate columns: a first distillation column that performs partial distillation to separate light components, and a second distillation column that performs final purification. This segmentation allows each column to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall energy demand compared to a single large column while achieving the required product purity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the heavy-boiling components and metallic impurities as a bottom product from the first distillation column before the final purification step. This extraction of harmful components early in the process simplifies the subsequent purification requirements and reduces the energy demand of the second column
2Device complexity
If a single distillation column with multiple side draws is used, then process complexity is reduced, but the number of theoretical stages and reflux ratio must be large
Solution Approach 1:
The distillation process is divided into two separate columns: a first distillation column that performs partial distillation to separate light components, and a second distillation column that performs final purification. This segmentation allows each column to be optimized for its specific function, reducing the overall energy demand compared to a single large column while achieving the required product purity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the heavy-boiling components and metallic impurities as a bottom product from the first distillation column before the final purification step. This extraction of harmful components early in the process simplifies the subsequent purification requirements and reduces the energy demand of the second column
3Loss of energy
If heat integration is implemented to counter high energy demand, then energy efficiency is improved, but process control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements self-service heat integration where the condenser of the first distillation column provides heating duty to the reboiler of the first column, and the condenser of the second column provides heating duty to the reboiler of the second column. This internal heat recycling reduces external energy requirements while maintaining simple process control architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The invention recovers thermal energy from the condenser streams that would otherwise be discarded and uses it to provide heating duty to the reboilers. This heat recovery approach reduces external energy requirements while maintaining simple process control architecture
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
The process achieves low overall energy consumption, reduced capital costs, and high-purity borate production with minimal thermal stress and impurities, resulting in a smooth operational range.
Implementation Method 1
In conventional production processes this reaction mixture is separated by distillation, using either a sequence of distillation columns or a single distillation column with multiple side draws.
Implementation Method 2
transferring part of the bottom product stream to a reboiler and recycling the resulting vapor stream to the bottom section of the reactive distillation device
Implementation Method 3
transferring a distillate stream containing water from the top of the reactive distillation device to a condenser and recycling a condensed liquid stream to the top of the reactive distillation device
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing oligo ethylene glycol methyl ether borate comprising the steps of: a) feeding boric acid and oligo ethylene glycol monomethyl ether into a reactor (10) and reacting the resulting mixture to obtain a raw product which comprises oligo ethylene glycol methyl ether borate, water and unreacted boric acid and oligo ethylene glycol monomethyl ether; b) feeding the raw product to a reactive distillation device (30) and reacting boric acid with oligo ethylene glycol monomethyl ether to full conversion of boric acid; c) transferring a distillate stream containing water from the top of the reactive distillation device (30) to a condenser (34) and recycling a condensed liquid stream to the top of the reactive distillation device (30); and d) withdrawing a bottom product stream containing oligo ethylene glycol methyl ether borate from the reactive distillation device (30), transferring part of the bottom product stream to a reboiler (33) and recycling the resulting vapor stream to the bottom section of the reactive distillation device (30).