Transesterification Catalyst for Alkanol Removal from Organic Carbonate
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Solution Overview
Problem
The presence of alkanol impurities, such as ethyl oxitol, in organic carbonate streams can interfere with subsequent production processes, leading to product loss and polymerization issues, and existing distillation methods are cumbersome due to the small boiling point difference between diethyl carbonate and ethyl oxitol, requiring multiple distillation steps.
Innovation Solution
Contacting the organic carbonate stream with a transesterification catalyst to react the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate, facilitating the removal of the impurity through transesterification, which can be performed during or after distillation, and using heterogeneous catalysts like zinc-based catalysts to shift the reaction equilibrium.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If distillation is used to separate diethyl carbonate from ethyl oxitol, then separation can be achieved, but multiple distillation steps are required due to small boiling point difference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical state of ethyl oxitol by adding a transesterification catalyst, converting it from a non-reactive impurity to a reactive species that undergoes chemical transformation. This parameter change (from physical separation to chemical reaction) resolves the contradiction by eliminating the need for multiple distillation steps while achieving complete removal of the impurity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transesterification catalyst acts as an intermediary that facilitates the conversion of ethyl oxitol into different chemical species. This mediator enables the separation process to proceed through chemical reaction rather than repeated physical distillation, reducing process complexity while maintaining high purification effectiveness.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple distillation steps are used to remove ethyl oxitol, then impurity removal can be achieved, but process time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the separation approach from physical (distillation) to chemical (transesterification) by changing the state and reactivity parameters of the impurity. This single-step chemical conversion replaces multiple time-consuming distillation steps, dramatically reducing process time while achieving complete impurity removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The transesterification reaction is performed as a preliminary action before final separation. By converting ethyl oxitol into different chemical species first, the subsequent separation becomes simpler and faster, eliminating the need for multiple sequential distillation operations and reducing overall process time.
3Device complexity
If ethyl oxitol is not removed, then process simplicity is maintained, but subsequent polymerization is poisoned and product loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of ethyl oxitol (polymerization poison) into a beneficial outcome by using its reactivity to undergo transesterification. The same chemical properties that make ethyl oxitol problematic (its reactivity) are harnessed to convert it into non-poisonous products, eliminating the harm while maintaining process simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transesterification catalyst serves as an intermediary that selectively reacts with ethyl oxitol to convert it into harmless products. This mediator removes the polymerization poison without affecting the main reaction components, protecting subsequent polymerization reliability while keeping the process simple and selective.
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 process effectively removes alkanol impurities, preventing interference in subsequent processes and allowing for the recovery of pure diethyl carbonate by exploiting boiling point differences, thereby simplifying the separation and enhancing process efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate
Implementation Method 2
reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate
Implementation Method 3
allowing for the recovery of pure diethyl carbonate by exploiting boiling point differences
Implementation Method 4
exploiting boiling point differences
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate.