A method and system for membrane-assisted production of high purity concentrated dimethyl carbonate by the reaction of carbon dioxide and methanol is provided. Carbon dioxide is recovered from flue gas or other dilute streams from industrial processes by a membrane and subsequent conversion takes place to an intermediate methyl carbamate by reacting of carbon dioxide with ammonia and methanol. For high-purity carbon dioxide obtained by one of the carbon capture technologies or by a process (such as, for example, ethanol fermentation process) the membrane reactor is replaced with a catalytic reactor for direct conversion of carbon dioxide to methyl carbamate by reacting with ammonia and methanol. The methyl carbamate is further reacted with methanol for conversion to dimethyl carbonate. An integrated reactive distillation process using side reactors is used for facilitating the catalytic reaction in the subject method for producing high purity dimethyl carbonate.

A method of separating linear alpha olefins includes: passing a feed stream comprising linear alpha olefins through a first column; distributing a C8− fraction to a top portion of the first column; distributing a C9+ fraction to a bottom portion of the first column; passing the C8− fraction directly to a top portion of a second column; passing the C9+ fraction directly to a bottom portion of a second column; distributing a C11+ fraction to the bottom portion of the second column; withdrawing a C10 fraction as a side draw from the second column; and passing a liquid stream and a vapor stream from the second column to the first column.

Heat exchangers (also referred to as exchangers herein) are provided that fit within a bottom sump of a distillation column. These heat exchangers may be at least partially submerged in the bottoms fluid of the distillation column so that the exterior surface of the heat exchanger can contribute to the total area of the heat exchanger. The internal configuration of the exchanger allows for annular coaxial flow of the hot fluid (condensing vapor stream) and eliminates the need for top and bottom channel heads.

A distillation column including a plurality of alternating plates and spacers stacked in a z-direction is provided. The plates include a respective liquid channeling network on a top surface thereof, a respective vapor opening, and a respective descending ramp. The respective descending ramps abut a respective liquid feed location of the plate immediately below to form a continuous liquid channeling network. The respective vapor openings of adjacent plates are located on opposite sides of the distillation column and form a continuous S-shaped vapor channel defined by the plurality of alternating plates and spacers, and the respective vapor openings. Systems including such distillation columns and processes of distilling a fluid mixture are also provided.

A remediation plant for remediating drilling mud, cuttings, and fluids. The preferred plant includes a reboiler that is adapted to provide heat to the drilling mud, cuttings, and fluid, a mud drum that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a distillation column that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a heat exchanger that is operatively connected to the reboiler, a condenser that is operatively connected to the distillation column, a condenser tank that is operatively connected to the condenser, an oil-water separator that is operatively connected to the condenser tank, and a pump that is operatively connected to the oil-water separator. The preferred remediation plant is adapted to remove synthetic drilling fluid from drilling mud, cuttings, and fluids. A method for remediating drilling mud, cuttings, and fluid.

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.

A method and systems are provided for controlling degradation in a reboiler using a hydrophobic coating. A reboiler is provided that includes a steam shell and a plurality of tubes. The reboiler includes a low surface-energy coating on a surface of the plurality of tubes.

Diabatic distillation column 1 includes first and second cooling devices 11, 12 configured to indirectly cool fluid in rectifying section 2 with a circulating working fluid, first and second heating devices 21, 22 configured to indirectly heat fluid in stripping section 3 with the circulating working fluid, first compressor 31 configured to compress the working fluid from first cooling device 11 on first circulation path P11-P14 between first cooling device 11 and first heating device 21, second compressor 32 configured to compress the working fluid from second cooling device 12 on second circulation path P21-P24 between second cooling device 12 and second heating device 22, first expansion device 41 configured to expand the working fluid from first heating device 21 on first circulation path P11-P14, and second expansion device 42 configured to expand the working fluid from second heating device 22 on second circulation path P21-P24.

Diabatic distillation column 1 includes first and second cooling devices 11, 12 configured to indirectly cool fluid in rectifying section 2 with a circulating working fluid, first and second heating devices 21, 22 configured to indirectly heat fluid in stripping section 3 with the circulating working fluid, first compressor 31 configured to compress the working fluid from first cooling device 11 on first circulation path P11-P14 between first cooling device 11 and first heating device 21, second compressor 32 configured to compress the working fluid from second cooling device 12 on second circulation path P21-P24 between second cooling device 12 and second heating device 22, first expansion device 41 configured to expand the working fluid from first heating device 21 on first circulation path P11-P14, and second expansion device 42 configured to expand the working fluid from second heating device 22 on second circulation path P21-P24.

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.