Separation process using pervaporation and dephlegmation

US6755975B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Membrane Technology and Research, Inc. · US
• The United States of America as represented by the Environmental Protection Agency · US

Inventors

• Leland Vane · Cincinnati, US
• Anurag Mairal · Fremont, US
• Alvin Ng · Houston, US
• Franklin R. Alvarez · Cincinnati, US
• Richard W. Baker · Newark, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 12, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 29, 2004
• Expiry date: Dec 28, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C45/786
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for treating liquids containing organic compounds and water. The process includes a pervaporation step in conjunction with a dephlegmation step to treat at least a portion of the permeate vapor from the pervaporation step. The process yields a membrane residue stream, a stream enriched in the more volatile component (usually the organic) as the overhead stream from the dephlegmator and a condensate stream enriched in the less volatile component (usually the water) as a bottoms stream from the dephlegmator. Any of these may be the principal product of the process. The membrane separation step may also be performed in the vapor phase, or by membrane distillation.