Patent · US Expired

Reclamation of spent glycol by treatment with alkali metal hydroxide and distillation

US4225394A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
11References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 1976
Grant dateSep 30, 1980
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 1996

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/582
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Ethylene glycol is recovered from spent glycol containing impurities, such as dimethyl terephthalate, by subjecting the spent glycol to a sequential flash evaporation-distillation or distillation-flash evaporation-distillation procedure. Dimethyl terephthalate impurities are rendered non-volatile by the addition of a small amount of alkali metal hydroxide prior to flash evaporation. Dewatering of spent glycol and separation of ethylene glycol from impurities rendered non-volatile by alkali metal hydroxide is also performed in one or two distillation steps. Sufficient ethylene glycol is recovered to make use of flash evaporation an optional step.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.