UF and MVR Recovery of Industrial Process Fluid Components

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods lack effective processes for recovering valuable chemical compounds from industrial process fluid wastewater, limiting the recycling and reuse of these materials, which can contribute to environmental pollution and increased disposal costs.

Innovation Solution

The combination of mechanical vapor recompression (MVR) and ultrafiltration (UF) is used to treat industrial process fluid wastewater, allowing for the recovery of valuable chemical compounds such as phenolic biocides and amines, which are then reused or recycled, by separating and distilling components that azeotrope with water or have molecular diameters less than 6 nm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If traditional wastewater treatment methods are used, then water can be removed and recycled, but valuable chemical compounds are lost and require disposal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloss of valuable chemical compoundsVSAvoiddisposal costs and environmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts valuable chemical compounds (phenolic biocides and amines) from the wastewater stream before final treatment. Ultrafiltration membranes selectively retain these compounds while allowing water to pass through, enabling separate recovery and recycling of both the chemical compounds and water, thereby preventing loss of valuable substances and reducing disposal requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding the entire wastewater stream or treating it as a homogeneous waste, the patent recovers valuable chemical compounds from the wastewater. The ultrafiltration process separates retained compounds that can be concentrated and reused, transforming what would be discarded material into recoverable resources, thus reducing both substance loss and disposal needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If MVR is used alone for water recovery, then water can be efficiently removed and reused, but other valuable materials cannot be recovered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater recovery efficiencyVSAvoidrecovery of useful materials

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wastewater treatment process into two distinct functional stages: ultrafiltration for separating and concentrating valuable chemical compounds, and MVR for water removal and recovery. This segmentation allows each process to optimize for its specific function while collectively achieving both water recovery efficiency and valuable material recovery, overcoming the limitation of using either process alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If UF is used for removing larger molecules, then particulates can be separated, but dissolved chemical compounds remain in the wastewater

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval of larger moleculesVSAvoidrecovery of dissolved phenolic biocide and amine

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition in the MVR process where water evaporates from the retentate stream containing concentrated chemical compounds. This phase change separates water vapor from the non-volatile or less-volatile chemical compounds (phenolic biocides and amines), allowing water to be condensed and recovered while the chemical compounds remain in the concentrated retentate for reuse, thereby recovering dissolved compounds that UF alone cannot separate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

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 approach enables the efficient recovery and reuse of valuable chemical compounds, reducing waste volume and environmental impact while being cost-effective, as the recovered materials can be reused in industrial processes, thereby reducing the need for new materials and minimizing disposal costs.

Implementation Method 1

ultrafiltration to remove particulates from said fluid that are greater than about 6 nm in diameter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrafiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

mechanical vapor recompression to obtain components of the after-use fluid that azeotrope or distill with water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical vapor recompression: Distillation

Data Source

PatentEP2167208B1Recovery by vapor recompression of industrial process fluid components

Publication Date: 2020.02.26 HOUGHTON TECHNICAL CORP

AI summary

The invention provides the combined use of UF and MVR for the treatment of industrial process fluid wastewater that contains recoverable material The recoverable material desirably has a molecular diameter of less than about 5 to 6 nm and a boiling point of less than about 200 0C In one embodiment, the recoverable material may then be utilized in the preparation of another industrial process fluid In another embodiment, the recoverable material is isolated and retained for later use. The invention thereby provides aqueous industrial process fluid which contains water, one or more of an emulsifier, oil, amine, biocide, thickener, lubricant, dispersant, antioxidant, corrosion inhibitor, alkaline compound, surfactant, and earner; and one or more chemical compounds recovered from aqueous industrial process fluid wastewater treated with UF and MVR.