An apparatus and method for extraction of oils from botanical material using high-pressure hydrocarbons such as propane, or butane, or mixtures thereof are described. A high-pressure propane or butane saturated liquid/vapor mixture formed by pressure reduction through a valve placed before an extraction column, thereby serving as an expansion port was employed. The apparatus is capable of both continuous liquid extraction or batch-style liquid operation through the use of a manifold valve, which directs the solvent liquid/vapor in the system to either a supply tank or an extraction column.

A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.

Methods comprising contacting a residue comprising paraffinic, olefinic, and aromatic hydrocarbons with a polar solvent under conditions effective to extract at least a portion of the aromatic hydrocarbons from the residue into the polar solvent, thereby generating: an extract phase comprising the portion of aromatic hydrocarbons and the polar solvent; and, a raffinate phase comprising a majority of the paraffinic and olefinic hydrocarbons.

The invention relates to a method of separating a first contaminant from a feed stream further comprising a condensation polymer. The invention further relates to a reactor system for carrying out the method, comprising at least one depolymerization vessel, configured for depolymerizing a condensation polymer into monomer, dimer, trimer and/or oligomer, which depolymerizing occurs in an alcoholic solvent, wherein said condensation polymer is provided as a feed stream further comprising a first contaminant, the reactor system comprising a separation stage, said separation stage comprising a separation vessel, downstream of the depolymerization vessel, configured for collecting a first contaminant, wherein said first contaminant is separated from the alcoholic solvent on the basis of a density separation so that the first contaminant is arranged on top of the alcoholic solvent.

A process can be used for recovering 1-methoxy-2-propanol and 2-methoxy-1-propanol from an aqueous effluent stream by liquid-liquid-extraction, followed by extractive distillation, distillation of methoxypropanols from the extraction solvent, and distillative separation of the methoxypropanol isomers. Recovered extraction solvent is recycled to the extraction and extractive distillation. Heat transfer from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation reduces energy demand of the process. A facility for this process contains a countercurrent extraction column, an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery distillation column, an isomer separation distillation column, and a heat exchanger for transferring heat from recovered extraction solvent to the extract fed to the extractive distillation.

The present invention relates to a process for recovering acrylic acid which is obtained by catalytic gas phase oxidation of propene, wherein, in an absorption stage (K2), the acrylic acid is absorbed from the reaction mixture (1) from the gas phase oxidation with a first solvent (3) and is drawn off for distillative purification, and a gas mixture from the absorption stage (K2) is passed onward to a condensation stage, wherein, in the condensation stage, the gas mixture is condensed, and a condensed phase of the gas mixture is drawn off as acid water (4) and is subjected to a phase separation operation in a phase separation vessel (B1), comprising the steps of a) feeding the aqueous phase (4*) of the acid water (4) drawn off from the condensation stage that has been obtained in the phase separation vessel (B1) to an extraction stage (K7) in which acrylic acid present in the acid water (4) is extracted with a second solvent (5), b) feeding the acrylic acid-comprising extract (6) to a stripping column (K8) in which the acrylic acid is removed from the second solvent (5) with cycle gas (8), wherein the second solvent (5) removed is fed back again after the acrylic acid has been stripped out in the extraction stage (K7), c) feeding the acrylic acid-laden cycle gas (9) to a stripping cycle gas scrubber (K5) in which the acrylic acid is removed from the cycle gas with the first solvent stream (10) fed to the stripping gas scrubber (K5) and transferred into the first solvent (3), and d) feeding a first portion of the acrylic acid-laden first solvent (3) back to the absorption stage (K2).

The present invention further relates to a corresponding plant for recovery of acrylic acid.

An apparatus and method for extraction of oils from botanical material using high-pressure hydrocarbons such as propane, or butane, or mixtures thereof are described. A high-pressure propane or butane saturated liquid/vapor mixture formed by pressure reduction through a valve placed before an extraction column, thereby serving as an expansion port was employed. The apparatus is capable of both continuous liquid extraction or batch-style liquid operation through the use of a manifold valve, which directs the solvent liquid/vapor in the system to either a supply tank or an extraction column.

The present invention relates to a method for the chlorination of a sucrose-6-acylate to produce a 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxy-galactosucrose-6-acylate wherein said method includes steps of: (i) combining the sucrose-6-acylate with a chlorinating agent in a reaction vehicle comprising a tertiary amide to afford a mixture; (ii) heating said mixture for a heating period in order to provide chlorination of sucrose-6-acylate at the 4, 1′ and 6′ positions thereof; and (iii) quenching the product stream of (ii) to produce a 4,1′,6′-trichloro-4,1′,6′-trideoxy-galactosucrose-6-acylate;
wherein before said quenching, a portion of said tertiary amide is removed by extraction into a solvent in which said tertiary amide is at least partially soluble.

A sample purification system includes a container assembly bounding a sample purification compartment and having an upper end and an opposing lower end, the sample purification compartment comprising mixing zones and settling zones. A plurality of shielding elements are positioned within the sample purification compartment so as to at least partially separate adjacent mixing zones and settling zones or separate adjacent mixing zones, the mixing zones being in fluid communication with the settling zones. A mixing element is disposed within each mixing zone. An acoustic wave settler is aligned with a portion of the container assembly, the acoustic wave settler being configured to emit an acoustic wave through the portion of the container assembly and a mixture disposed therein, the acoustic wave coalescing fluid phase droplets disposed in the mixture to increase the buoyancy or density of the fluid phase droplets.

A sample purification system includes a mixing zone; a settling zone in fluid communication with the mixing zone; a mixer element disposed in the mixing zone, the mixer element being configured to mix immiscible liquids to form a mixture; and a first acoustic wave settler configured to emit an acoustic wave into the mixture.