Process for recovering methanol

US7157610B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Degussa AG · DE
• UHDE GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Willi Hofen · Rodenbach, DE
• Thomas Haas · Munster, DE
• Bärbel Kolbe · Witten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2005
• Grant date: Jan 2, 2007
• Expiry date: Dec 19, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/10
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for recovering methanol from mixtures containing methanol and water, comprising multistage evaporation with heat integration, wherein the pressure is reduced from each stage to the next, and a downstream series of distillation stages with heat integration, wherein the pressure is increased from each stage to the next. The process reduces the amount of energy required for methanol recovery.