Energy efficient separation of ethanol from aqueous solution
US8263814B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 11, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 8, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P20/54
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention provides methods and systems for extracting ethanol from an ethanol-water solution comprising (1) extracting ethanol from an ethanol-water solution with a first solvent comprising an esterified fatty acid, wherein the esterified fatty acid comprises a hydroxylated fatty acid component and an alcohol component such that the alcohol component is a C3-6 alcohol, such that the distribution coefficient for ethanol in the mixture of the ethanol-water solution and the first solvent is at least 0.02 favoring the transfer of ethanol from the ethanol-water solution to the first solvent, thereby extracting the ethanol from the ethanol-water solution into the first solvent, and (2) extracting the ethanol-enriched first solvent with carbon dioxide, such that the carbon dioxide is at a liquid or near supercritical phase, wherein the distribution coefficient for ethanol in a mixture of the first solvent and the carbon dioxide is at least 0.1 favoring the transfer of ethanol from the first solvent to the carbon dioxide.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.