There is provided systems and methods for aggregating and enhancing the initial materials produced from the conversion of flare gas at a flare gas source. In an embodiment the flare gas source is a hydrocarbon wellhead and the initial material is methanol and the end product is grade methanol.

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) may be reclaimed by a process that includes contacting a MEG-water-salt stream with a heat transfer fluid and then flash separating the MEG and water in the flash separator vessel where the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa), the temperature is in the range of above 120° C. to about 250° C., and the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes, and then removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel and removing the salt from the flash separator vessel. In some embodiments it is expected that the temperature of the process may range from above 165° C. to about 250° C. and/or that the pressure may be atmospheric.

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) may be reclaimed by a process that includes contacting a MEG-water-salt stream with a heat transfer fluid and then flash separating the MEG and water in the flash separator vessel where the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa), the temperature is in the range of above 120° C. to about 250° C., and the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes, and then removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel and removing the salt from the flash separator vessel. In some embodiments it is expected that the temperature of the process may range from above 165° C. to about 250° C. and/or that the pressure may be atmospheric.

Monoethylene glycol (MEG) may be reclaimed by a process that includes contacting a MEG-water-salt stream with a heat transfer fluid and then flash separating the MEG and water in the flash separator vessel where the pressure is higher than 0.3 barA (0.03 MPa), the temperature is in the range of above 120° C. to about 250° C., and the residence time of the MEG and water ranges from about 1 second to about 10 minutes, and then removing the MEG and water in an overhead of the flash separator vessel and removing the salt from the flash separator vessel. In some embodiments it is expected that the temperature of the process may range from above 165° C. to about 250° C. and/or that the pressure may be atmospheric.

What is disclosed is a method of reducing undesirable concentrations of microorganisms without the use of man-made antibiotics, comprising the steps of: introducing a quantity of fermentable carbohydrate; sugar or cellulose to an aqueous system; introducing a quantity of desirable microorganism to the aqueous system; introducing at least one acid into the aqueous system, wherein the at least one acid is selected from the group consisting of hops acid, organic acid, or a combination of hops acid and organic acid; and introducing a compound comprised of Lauryl-L-arginine ethyl ester monohydrochloride (LAE) into the aqueous system. The use of LAE as a preservative of distiller's grains and solubles is also disclosed.

What is disclosed is a method of reducing undesirable concentrations of microorganisms without the use of man-made antibiotics, comprising the steps of: introducing a quantity of fermentable carbohydrate; sugar or cellulose to an aqueous system; introducing a quantity of desirable microorganism to the aqueous system; introducing at least one acid into the aqueous system, wherein the at least one acid is selected from the group consisting of hops acid, organic acid, or a combination of hops acid and organic acid; and introducing a compound comprised of Lauryl-L-arginine ethyl ester monohydrochloride (LAE) into the aqueous system. The use of LAE as a preservative of distiller's grains and solubles is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing pure methanol, wherein the crude methanol stream discharged from a methanol synthesis unit is decompressed in a decompression vessel, is subsequently at least partially freed of low-boiling by-products in a prerun column and is then supplied to a single- or multi-stage methanol purification apparatus from which a pure methanol product stream is finally discharged. According to the invention the tops product stream from the prerun column is subjected to a scrubbing step with a methanol-selective scrubbing medium, thus at least partially recovering methanol present and sending a methanol-depleted tops product stream to the offgas disposal apparatus.

The invention relates to a process and a plant for producing pure methanol, wherein the crude methanol stream discharged from a methanol synthesis unit is decompressed in a decompression vessel, is subsequently at least partially freed of low-boiling by-products in a prerun column and is then supplied to a single- or multi-stage methanol purification apparatus from which a pure methanol product stream is finally discharged. According to the invention the tops product stream from the prerun column is subjected to a scrubbing step with a methanol-selective scrubbing medium, thus at least partially recovering methanol present and sending a methanol-depleted tops product stream to the offgas disposal apparatus.

Systems and processes disclosed may be used to produce a high purity isobutane stream and a high purity 1-butene stream from mixed C4 streams having disparate starting compositions.

Systems and processes disclosed may be used to produce a high purity isobutane stream and a high purity 1-butene stream from mixed C4 streams having disparate starting compositions.