The invention relates to a system and a method for the processing of minerals containing the lanthanide series and the production of rare earth oxides, which allow a completely closed and continuous treatment of the different materials and desorbent agents involved in the process, thus improving the efficiency in the extraction and avoiding environmental risks associated. The method comprising the steps of: reception and conditioning of the raw material; desorption of valuable product through a plurality of mixing and reaction stages in which the raw material is contacted in countercurrent with a stream of desorbent solution; separation of fine solids; precipitation of secondary minerals through the use of a first reactive solution; precipitation of rare earth carbonates through the use of a second reactive solution; and drying and roasting of the rare earth carbonates to obtain rare earth oxides; wherein the method further comprises a secondary process that allows further processing of the residual mineral, and a dewatering and washing step wherein the residual mineral from the desorption step is washed and a lanthanide-containing liquid is recovered.

The invention relates to a process, method and devices for recovery of products from a feedstock such as an organic, non-organic or biodynamic feedstock. The products include consumables such as high nutrition foods, nutraceuticals and bioactive compounds and/or non-consumables such as energy and synfuels. The invention typically includes real-time process optimisation. The devices include a counter current diffusion extractor and a decorticator for deriving useful products from a feedstock, optionally for consumption in further processing.

The present invention describes a method which outlines a process for conversion of CBD to a Δ.sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ.sup.9-THC) compound or derivative thereof involving treating a naturally produced CBD intermediate compound with an organoaluminum-based Lewis acid catalyst, under conditions effective to produce the Δ.sup.9-tetrahydrocannabinol compound or derivative thereof at a relatively high concentration. The source of the CBD is from industrial hemp having less than 0.3% Δ.sup.9-THC and extracting and purifying a CBD distillate or isolate or a combination thereof. This procedure will produce Δ.sup.9-THC that is essentially free from any other cannabinoids other than some trace amounts of the initial CBD starting material, or about 95% Δ.sup.9-THC and 2-4% CBD. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a process for further purification and enrichment of the Δ.sup.9-THC using distillation and collecting an essentially pure fraction of Δ.sup.9-THC using additional distillation or enrichment form of purification. Included are methods and processes to scale the reaction from the lab to large scale manufacturing. Included are methods for adding a molecule marker to authenticate high purity Δ.sup.9-THC products. Formulations and uses for pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food products, and topicals are also provided.

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.

The present document describes a system and a process for the extraction of several products from apple peel. There are several unit operations involved including an ultrafiltration unit, concentration unit, and a three stage counter current separator centrifuge wherein water is used as the solvent. The final products that are extracted from apple peel include pectin, syrup, fibers, as well as soluble and dried retentate fractions.

The invention provides a process for the separation of MEG and 1,2-BDO from a first mixture comprising MEG and 1,2-BDO in a first solvent by the steps of: (i) combining said first mixture with a second solvent stream comprising a second solvent in a first extraction column; (ii) recovering (a) a second mixture of MEG and 1,2-BDO in the second solvent, wherein the molar ratio of MEG:1,2-BDO is lower in the second mixture than in the first mixture; and (b) a solution comprising MEG in the first solvent; (iii) combining said second mixture with a first washing stream, said first washing stream also comprising the first solvent in a second extraction column; (iv) recovering (c) a first extract stream comprising the second solvent and 1,2-BDO and (d) a third mixture comprising MEG and, optionally, 1,2-BDO in the first solvent.

Techniques for separating a fuel on-board a vehicle include mixing an input fuel stream and a fluid solvent; separating the mixture into a first liquid fuel stream and a second liquid fuel stream, the first liquid fuel stream including a first portion of the input fuel stream defined by a first auto-ignition characteristic value and the fluid solvent, the second liquid fuel stream including a second portion of the input fuel stream defined by a second auto-ignition characteristic value that is different than the first auto-ignition characteristic value; separating the first liquid fuel stream into the fluid solvent and the first portion of the input fuel stream; directing the first portion of the input fuel stream to a first fuel tank on the vehicle; and directing the second portion of the input fuel stream to a second fuel tank on the vehicle.

The present invention provides an annular centrifugal contactor, having a housing to receive a plurality of liquids; a rotor inside the housing; an annular mixing zone, with a plurality of fluid retention reservoirs; and an adjustable stem that can be raised to restrict the flow of a liquid into the rotor or lowered to increase the flow of liquid into the rotor. The invention also provides a method for transferring moieties from a first liquid to a second liquid, the method having the steps of combining the fluids in a housing whose interior has helically shaped first channels; subjecting the fluids to a spinning rotor to produce a mixture, whereby the channels simultaneously conduct the mixture downwardly and upwardly; and passing the mixture through the rotor to contact second channels, whereby the channels pump the second liquid through a first aperture while the first fluid exits a second aperture.

Embodiments of the disclosure produce a method and system for deasphalting a hydrocarbon feed. The hydrocarbon feed and a first solvent is combined using a Taylor-Couette mixer to form a mixed stream. The mixed stream and a second solvent are introduced to an extractor to produce a first deasphalted oil stream and a pitch stream. The first deasphalted oil stream is introduced to a solvent recovery unit to recover the first solvent and the second solvent via a recovered solvent stream and to produce a second deasphalted oil stream.

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.