Taurine Production Waste Stream Recovery via pH-Adjusted Extraction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current taurine production processes generate significant waste streams containing aminoalcohols and glycols, which hinder the efficiency and yield of taurine production due to the need for large purge volumes and difficulty in isolating pure taurine.
Innovation Solution
A liquid-liquid extraction process that adjusts the pH of aqueous streams to basic conditions and uses organic solvents like isopropanol to separate and recover monoethanolamine and ethylene glycol, reducing waste and increasing taurine yield by allowing the purified streams to be reused in production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional taurine production processes are used, then taurine can be produced, but significant waste streams containing aminoalcohols and glycols are generated requiring large purge volumes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies liquid-liquid extraction to separate and remove aminoalcohols and glycols from the aqueous waste stream. An organic solvent is used to extract these impurities, allowing the purified aqueous phase to be recycled back into the taurine production process, thereby reducing waste stream volume and improving production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers valuable components (aminoalcohols and glycols) from the waste stream through extraction. These recovered substances can be discarded as concentrated waste or potentially reused, while the purified aqueous phase is recovered and recycled into the production process, eliminating the need for large purge volumes
2Device complexity
If aminoalcohols and glycols are not removed from aqueous streams, then the process is simpler, but the amount of purge solution increases and taurine yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an organic solvent as an intermediary substance to facilitate the separation of aminoalcohols and glycols from the aqueous stream. This intermediary enables efficient impurity removal that improves taurine yield, while the solvent itself can be recovered and reused, limiting the increase in overall process complexity
3Reliability
If large purge volumes are used to handle waste streams, then impurity accumulation is prevented, but process efficiency and yield are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts impurities (aminoalcohols and glycols) from the aqueous waste stream using an organic solvent. This concentrated extraction allows impurities to be removed in a small volume, maintaining impurity control reliability while avoiding the need for large purge volumes that would reduce process efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the waste stream by adjusting pH levels to optimize the extraction process. This parameter optimization enables more effective impurity removal with smaller volumes, maintaining reliability while improving overall process efficiency
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 effectively reduces purge volumes and increases taurine yield by selectively removing impurities, enabling the recycling of aminoalcohols and glycols for further use in taurine production.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid-liquid extraction process that adjusts the pH of aqueous streams to basic conditions and uses organic solvents like isopropanol to separate and recover monoethanolamine and ethylene glycol
Implementation Method 2
adjusts the pH of aqueous streams to basic conditions
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed an extraction process for recovering aminoalcohols and glycols from aqueous streams of taurine production. The aqueous streams which contain aminoalcohols and/or glycols are first mixed with a base to increase pH and then extracted with C3-C6 alcohols, ketones, and ethers. The aqueous streams are then returned to their respective cyclic process for the production of taurine.