A process produces sodium and/or potassium alkoxides in countercurrent by reactive rectification. Alcohol is reacted in countercurrent with the respective alkali metal hydroxide. The vapours containing alcohol and water are separated into at least two serially arranged rectification columns. The energy of the vapour obtained in the first rectification is utilized for operating the second rectification. This specific energy integration coupled with establishing a certain pressure difference in the two rectification stages makes it possible to cover a particularly large proportion of the energy required for the rectification through electricity and to save heating steam.

An energy efficient distillation process is provided. Energy efficiency originates from a combination two processes: a) the vaporization occurring with high pressure and high temperature, which decreases enthalpy of vaporization, where the enthalpy of vaporization can be equal to zero if the vaporization occurs to critical state of vaporizing fluid; and b) thermal energy and hydraulic energy of vaporized fluid return to the feed liquid with the system of heat exchangers and pressure exchangers. The energy efficient distillation herein can be applied in multiple existing distillation processes.

Method and Apparatus for separating at least one CO isotope compound, especially isotope compound 13C16O, from natural CO, comprising: a rectification column system (110) comprising a plurality of rectification sections (112,114,116,118,120) arranged adjacent to one another in a chain-like manner, including an upper rectification section (112) and a plurality of lower rectification sections (114,116,118,120), each rectification section comprising a heating means (112a,114a,116a,118a,120a) to maintain evaporation of liquid present therein, provided that the heating means (112a) of the at least one of the plurality of rectification sections (112) is provided to comprise a heat pump cycle (112b).

A process for the purification of isobutene from a C4 stream with at least 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutane and isobutene includes isomerizing 1-butene from a stream of material which is concentrated in isobutane and isobutene obtained from the C4 stream into 2-butene, using a catalyst in an isomerization reactor; supplying a product stream from the isomerization reactor to a rectification column; and providing a stream of material which is concentrated in isobutene. A processing facility is utilized for the purification of isobutene from the C4 stream.

Method for revamping a refining section of a methanol distillation plant comprising a medium pressure (MP) column a low pressure (LP) column, wherein both said columns comprise at least one bottom boiler, a gaseous stream of distilled methanol withdrawn from the MP column is fed to at least one bottom boiler of the LP column and a liquid solution containing methanol withdrawn from the MP column is fed to the LP column, the method of revamping comprising the installation of a high pressure (HP) column; the installation of a line feeding a gaseous stream of distilled methanol from the HP column to at least one bottom boiler of the MP column and the installation of a bottom line for exporting from the HP column a liquid stream consisting essentially of water.

The apparatus comprises a first air duct with a first opening and a second opening, in the first air duct are: a cooler, a first suction device and at least part of a sorption heat exchanger having an integrated heating and/or an upstream device for preheating the incoming air. An element for collecting condensed water is also included. The apparatus also comprises a recuperative heat exchanger, which is positioned in the first air duct between the cooler and the sorption exchanger and simultaneously also between the cooler and the second opening. The recuperative heat exchanger has at least two internal conduits connected in such manner, that the first of these internal conduits air-interconnects the sorption exchanger and the cooler and that the second of these internal conduits air-interconnects the cooler and the second opening. The first and second internal conduits of the recuperative heat exchanger are in mutual thermal contact. The sorption exchanger is also air-interconnected to the first opening.

A method to recover refrigeration credit from propane feed to a propane dehydrogenation reactor by fully condensing a Depropanizer overhead stream, letting the condensed stream down in pressure, and vaporizing the stream at lower pressure against process streams to recover refrigeration credit.

Degassing device for degassing a liquid flow, including: a housing for receiving liquid from the liquid flow therein, the housing having one or more ports for connecting to the liquid flow; a valve arranged for allowing gas to escape from the housing; and a heater arranged at least partly inside the housing for raising a temperature of the liquid received in the housing with respect to a further temperature of the liquid flow.

A process for the purification of isobutene from a C4 stream with at least 1-butene, 2-butene, isobutane and isobutene includes isomerizing 1-butene from a stream of material which is concentrated in isobutane and isobutene obtained from the C4 stream into 2-butene, using a catalyst in an isomerization reactor; supplying a product stream from the isomerization reactor to a rectification column; and providing a stream of material which is concentrated in isobutene. A processing facility is utilized for the purification of isobutene from the C4 stream.

A system and method to vaporize a process or feed water stream does so in a liquid pool zone of a vessel as the stream comes into contact with a heating medium that is less volatile than the process stream. To keep the pool hot, the heating medium can be recirculated through a heater of a pump-around loop or a heater can be placed in the liquid pool. As the process stream is vaporized, any solids present in the process stream come out of the process stream and move into the heating medium. These solids may be further removed from the heating medium in the pool or in the pump-around loop. The vaporized process stream can be further condensed. Any heat recovered can be used to pre-heat the process stream or used in the pump around loop's heater in case of mechanical vapor recovery.