Patent · US Expired

Liquid CO.sub.2 /cosolvent extraction

US4770780A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
4References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 25, 1984
Grant dateSep 13, 1988
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB01D11/0407
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Disclosed are a fluid extractant, and a process and apparatus for using the extractant to separate an organic liquid from an aqueous mixture. The extractant comprises a first fluid solvent which is a gas in its near-critical or supercritical state and a cosolvent. A preferred first fluid solvent is near-critical liquid carbon dioxide. Preferred cosolvents are 2-ethyl hexanol for ethanol extraction, and hexanoic acid for acetic acid extraction. Organic compounds such as monohydric alcohols, monoacids, ketones, ethers, aldehydes and esters can be recovered from dilute aqueous solutions more economically than possible by prior art processes of distillation.

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