A process for separating a component mixture comprising essentially hydrocarbons having two or two or more carbon atoms, methane and hydrogen using a distillation apparatus (10) is proposed. Fluid (a, c, e, g, i) from the component mixture is cooled stepwise to a first pressure level, with separation of first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) out of the fluid (a, c, e, g, i) in each case. Fluid (k) from the component mixture that remains in gaseous form thereafter is expanded to a second pressure level in an expander, giving a second condensate (I). Fluid from the first condensates (b, d, f, h, j) is expanded from the first pressure level to the second pressure level and fed together with the fluid from the second condensates into the distillation apparatus (10) which is being operated at the second pressure level. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding separation apparatus.

Disclosed is a method for separating a plurality of chemical components from a chemical mixture comprising a plurality of fluorinated fluids, the method comprising: a step of identifying, in the chemical mixture, at least two sub-mixtures, each complex sub-mixture being associated either with a first group for secondary pressure swing distillation or with a second group (G2) for secondary extractive distillation, a step of primary distillation, using a main column, so as to separate each identified sub-mixture, a secondary distillation step, using the same advanced unit of two auxiliary columns, for distilling each complex sub-mixture, the complex sub-mixtures of the first group being separated by the pressure swing distillation method and the complex sub-mixtures of the second group being separated by the extractive distillation method.

The present disclosure relates generally to processes and apparatuses for separating an effluent in an acetic acid production unit. Accordingly, one aspect of the disclosure provides a process including introducing a feed stream comprising acetic acid and water into a distillation column through a feed inlet, separating the feed stream to form a water-rich first fraction and an acetic acid-rich second fraction, measuring an internal temperature and an internal pressure of the column at positions between a first outlet and a second outlet of the column, determining a corrected temperature of the column based on the measured internal pressure and internal temperature of the column, adjusting a heating rate of a heat source in thermal communication with a bottom section of the column if the corrected temperature differs from a target value, and then withdrawing at least a portion of the separated acetic acid-rich second fraction, the fraction comprising 500-1,500 ppm water by weight (ppmw).

A process for stably and safely producing acetic acid without increasing an internal pressure of a distillation column is provided. The process comprises (1) a carbonylation reaction step for allowing methanol to react with carbon monoxide; (2) a flash step for separating the reaction mixture into a volatile phase and a less-volatile phase; (3) a first distillation step for separating the volatile phase into a first overhead and a crude acetic acid stream rich in acetic acid; and (4) a separation step for separating at least acetaldehyde from the first overhead. The separation step (4) comprises (6) a second distillation step for distilling the first overhead while controlling an internal pressure of a distillation column provided with a pressure control unit 68 to form a second overhead rich in acetaldehyde and methyl iodide and a bottom or lower stream, and (7) an extraction step for extracting acetaldehyde from the second overhead to form an extract rich in acetaldehyde and a raffinate rich in methyl iodide.

An automatic tritium extraction device for environmental monitoring comprises a distillation chamber, a temperature control unit, a condensation unit and an auxiliary condensation unit. The distillation chamber is connected to a first pump, a second pump and a third pump. A delivery pipe comprises a first vertical pipe, a second vertical pipe and an oblique pipe which inclines upwards from the distillation chamber to the condensation unit. An automatic tritium extraction method for environmental monitoring comprises the following steps: 1) cleaning of a distillation chamber; 2) distillation rising; 3) distillation; 4) condensation; 5) discharging samples out of the distillation chamber. By the adoption of the automatic tritium extraction device and method for environmental monitoring, fully-automatic distillation and condensation of environmental tritium samples, automatic cleaning of the distillation chamber, and automatic and accurate addition of required agents are realized, and fully-automatic acquisition, preparation, distillation, purification, measurement and analysis of environmental tritium can be completed; and manual intervention is reduced, so that monitoring results are more accurate, and labor costs are saved.

An apparatus and process doubles the number of trays in a single fractionation column. A dividing wall is used to isolate a first side from a second side and fractionation on trays on each side is independent of the other. A transition vapor stream is ducted from a top of a first side to the bottom of the second side, and a transition liquid stream is ducted from a bottom of the second side to the top of the first side.

Provided is a method of separating and purifying a mixture of components having small difference in boiling point, and the method may maximize an energy collecting amount and collect a product to be desired in high purity and high yield.

The present disclosure generally relates to method and apparatus for preventing coke formation in reactor vapor feed nozzle of a fractionator column of a fluid catalytic cracking unit. One or more baffles are positioned within the fractionator column to prevent effluent vapor that is directed by the reactor vapor feed nozzle into the feed zone from flowing back into the reactor vapor feed nozzle. The reactor vapor feed nozzle itself, or an internal nozzle coupled to the reactor vapor feed nozzle, may extend at least partially into the feed zone to similarly act as a baffle.

The present disclosure relates to systems and/or methods for enabling a reflux process in one or more distillation columns. For example, various embodiments described herein can relate to a method that can utilize the column's feed stream to provide an internal reflux mechanism in the top portion of the distillation column. For instance, the method can include capturing overhead vapor from a distillation column. Additionally, the method can include comingling the overhead vapor with a feed stream. Further, the method can include partially condensing the feed stream to form a liquid hydrocarbon feed stream that is supplied to a top portion of the distillation column. In one or more embodiments, the comingling can incorporate reflux functionality into the liquid hydrocarbon feed stream to promote a rectification process in the top portion of the distillation column.

A process for stably and safely producing acetic acid without increasing an internal pressure of a distillation column is provided. The process comprises (1) a carbonylation reaction step for allowing methanol to react with carbon monoxide; (2) a flash step for separating the reaction mixture into a volatile phase and a less-volatile phase; (3) a first distillation step for separating the volatile phase into a first overhead and a crude acetic acid stream rich in acetic acid; and (4) a separation step for separating at least acetaldehyde from the first overhead. The separation step (4) comprises (6) a second distillation step for distilling the first overhead while controlling an internal pressure of a distillation column provided with a pressure control unit 68 to form a second overhead rich in acetaldehyde and methyl iodide and a bottom or lower stream, and (7) an extraction step for extracting acetaldehyde from the second overhead to form an extract rich in acetaldehyde and a raffinate rich in methyl iodide.