Extraction column and process for extracting a constituent from a fluid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9643910-B2
Application number	US-201414573313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2013
Publication date	May 9, 2017
Grant date	May 9, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to an extraction column 1 having a vertically aligned column body 2 which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity 3 having a horizontal maximum extent, with provision in the column body 2 of at least one first feed 4 for an extractant, at least one second feed 5 for the fluid to be extracted and at least one outlet 6 for the extract mixture and at least one outlet for the raffinate. In the inventive extraction column 1 , a vertically aligned divider 7 arranged within the column cavity 3 subdivides the column cavity 3 into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, the horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity 3 . The invention further relates to a process for extracting a constituent from a fluid by means of such an extraction column 1.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An extraction column having
a vertically aligned column body which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity having a horizontal maximum extent, wherein the column body comprises a first feed configured for an extractant, a second feed configured for the fluid to be extracted and a first outlet configured for the extract mixture and a second outlet configured for the raffinate,
and wherein
a vertically aligned divider arranged within the column cavity subdivides the column cavity into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, a horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than a horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity, and
the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity is greater than or equal to 800 mm.

2. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein the horizontal maximum extent of each region at each horizontal section through the column body cut by the divider is less than the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity.

3. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein the column body is circular at a horizontal section through the column body, and the divider subdivides the column cavity into four vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions.

4. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein the regions formed by the divider are of equal size.

5. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein, at each horizontal section through the column body cut by the divider, the regions formed by the divider have the same geometry.

6. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity is greater than or equal to 1000 mm.

7. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein separating internals are arranged within the column cavity.

8. The extraction column according to claim 7 , wherein the separating internals for the regions formed by the divider are separate from one another.

9. The extraction column according to claim 7 , wherein the separating internals are configured such that they form liquid droplets.

10. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein the divider is subdivided into vertical segments placed one on top of another in the column cavity.

11. The extraction column according to claim 7 , wherein the separating internals in the regions formed by the divider are formed from identical individual packing elements.

12. The extraction column according to claim 1 , wherein a vertically aligned groove in which the divider engages is formed on the inside of the column body.

13. The extraction column according to claim 12 , wherein the divider comprises at least three layers, and the middle layer protrudes with respect to the outer layers and engages in the groove.

14. A process for extracting a constituent from a fluid by means of an extraction column according to claim 1 , the process comprising
introducing the fluid to be extracted into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions which are formed in the column cavity by a vertically aligned divider which subdivides the column cavity into the regions, a horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than the horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity;
introducing an extractant into the regions of the column cavity; and
absorbing the constituent of the fluid to be extracted with the extractant in the regions of the column cavity and withdrawing it as an extract mixture.

15. The process according to claim 14 , wherein a ratio of the extractant to the fluid to be extracted in the regions is essentially equal over a cross section of the extraction column.

16. The process according to claim 14 , wherein liquid droplets of the extractant or of the fluid to be extracted are formed by means of separating internals in the column cavity.

17. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the composition of the extractant and/or the composition of the fluid to be extracted in the regions is essentially equal over a cross section of the extraction column.

18. The process according to claim 14 , wherein the extractant is an organic solvent and the fluid to be extracted is water comprising acrylic acid and acetic acid.

19. An extraction column having
a vertically aligned column body which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity having a horizontal maximum extent, wherein the column body comprises a first feed configured for an extractant, a second feed configured for the fluid to be extracted and a first outlet configured for the extract mixture and a second outlet configured for the raffinate,
and wherein
a vertically aligned divider arranged within the column cavity subdivides the column cavity into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, a horizontal cavity, and
wherein the column body is circular at a horizontal section through the column body, and the divider subdivides the column cavity into four vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions.

20. An extraction column having
a vertically aligned column body which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity having a horizontal maximum extent, wherein the column body comprises a first feed configured for an extractant, a second feed configured for the fluid to be extracted and a first outlet configured for the extract mixture and a second outlet configured for the raffinate,
and wherein
a vertically aligned divider arranged within the column cavity subdivides the column cavity into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, a horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than a horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity, and
separating internals are arranged within the column cavity.

21. The extraction column according to claim 20 , wherein the separating internals for the regions formed by the divider are separate from one another.

22. The extraction column according to claim 20 , wherein the separating internals are configured such that they form liquid droplets.

23. The extraction column according to claim 20 , wherein the divider is subdivided into vertical segments placed one on top of another in the column cavity.

24. The extraction column according to claim 20 , wherein the separating internals in the regions formed by the divider are formed from identical individual packing elements.

25. An extraction column having
a vertically aligned column body which is cylindrical at least in sections and forms a column cavity having a horizontal maximum extent, wherein the column body comprises a first feed configured for an extractant, a second feed configured for the fluid to be extracted and a first outlet configured for the extract mixture and a second outlet configured for the raffinate,
and wherein
a vertically aligned divider arranged within the column cavity subdivides the column cavity into a plurality of vertically aligned and horizontally divided regions, a horizontal maximum extent of each region being less than a horizontal maximum extent of the column cavity, and
a vertically aligned groove in which the divider engages is formed on the inside of the column body.

26. The extraction column according to claim 25 , wherein the divider comprises at least three layers, and the middle layer protrudes with respect to the outer layers and engages in the groove.

Assignees

• Basf Se

Inventors

• Hammon Ulrich
• Pfeiffer Daniel
• Walter Jonathan

Classifications

• B01D11/0426 Primary

  Counter-current multistage extraction towers in a vertical or sloping position · CPC title

• B01D11/043

  with stationary contacting elements, sieve plates or loose contacting elements · CPC title

• B01D2011/002

  Counter-current extraction · CPC title

• B01D3/141 Primary

  where at least one distillation column contains at least one dividing wall · CPC title

• B01D3/40

  Extractive distillation · CPC title