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.

A liquid-liquid extraction system includes extraction stages, a pumping system, and a controller. Each extraction stage has a chamber, a primary input, a raffinate output, and an extract output. An input liquid (e.g., either a source liquid or raffinate from a preceding extraction stage, mixed with an extraction liquid) is presented to the chamber via the primary input. The chamber enables phase separation of liquid therein, into a raffinate and a extract, where the raffinate exits the separation vessel at the raffinate output, and the extract exits the separation vessel at the extract output. A level sensor is coupled to the chamber and the controller is operatively programmed to read an output of the level sensor, compare the output of the level sensor to a target, and cause the associated chamber to receive additional liquid if the output is lower than the target.

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.

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.

Centrifugal contactors that can be used for mixing or separating materials are described. The contactors include a sensing system including a communications fiber within the shaft of the contactors and access ports providing access from the communications fiber to the mixing/separating zone of the contactor. The sensing system can be utilized during operation of the contactor and can provide for detailed and accurate on-line characterization of a protocol, as well as process control and system modification as necessary during operation.

Centrifugal contactors that can be used for mixing or separating materials are described. The contactors include a sensing system including a communications fiber within the shaft of the contactors and access ports providing access from the communications fiber to the mixing/separating zone of the contactor. The sensing system can be utilized during operation of the contactor and can provide for detailed and accurate on-line characterization of a protocol, as well as process control and system modification as necessary during operation.

A counter-current liquid-liquid extraction column (1) adapted for the flow of two or more liquids (2) therein is disclosed. The column comprises within one common vessel (3): a first inlet (41) for a first liquid feed stream (51), a second inlet (42) for a second liquid feed stream (52), a first outlet (61) for a product stream (71), a second outlet (62) for a byproduct stream (72), a mixing section (8) comprising an agitation means (9), a static section (10) comprising a packing (11), optionally a collector (12) and/or distributor (13), characterized in that within the common vessel (3) are only one mixing section (8) and only either one or two static sections (10). The invention further relates to a process for using said column. The present invention further relates also to the use of the column or process in removing aromatic compounds from organic streams, in treating an oil stream of a refinery, or in a liquid-liquid extraction process.