High performance continuous reaction/separation process using a continuous liquid-solid contactor

• US 20040031757A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation (Kuraray Company Limited)
• Inventors: Chiang, Chen-Chou, Fair, David L.
• Application Number:
  US10/213,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/656
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1857 Reactive simulated moving beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 15/1864 using two or more columns
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2215/023 Simulated moving beds
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2215/028 Co-current flow
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 37/20 using aldehydes or ketones
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 39/16 Bis-(hydroxyphenyl) alkanes; Tris-(hydroxyphenyl)alkanes

Abstract

A process for reaction and separation which comprises inputting a process material into at least one column of a plurality of columns wherein each column has at least one inlet for accepting flow from another column or group of columns, an external feed stream, an external eluent stream or a combination thereof, and each column has at least one outlet for connecting to another column, a group of columns, an external product stream or a combination thereof. Each column is independently operable in an up-flow or down-flow mode and connected independently to one of the group comprising another column, an external feed stream, an external eluent stream, an external product stream and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A process for reaction and separation which comprises:

(a) inputting a process material into at least one column of a plurality of columns, each said column having at least one inlet for accepting flow from another column or group of columns, an external feed stream(s), an external eluent stream(s) or a combination thereof, and at least one outlet for connecting to another column, a group of columns, an external product stream(s) or a combination thereof;

each said column being independently operable in an up-flow or down-flow mode and connected independently to one of the group comprising another column, an external feed stream(s), an external eluent stream(s), an external product stream(s) and combinations thereof;

(b) reacting and separating said process material in one or more said columns; and

(c) extracting material therefrom.

2. In a process using a liquid-solid contacting apparatus, the improvement therein comprising the process set forth in claim 1.

5. A process for conducting reaction and separation in a material flow as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said columns are configured to provide at least one reverse flow.

6. A process for conducting reaction and separation in a material flow as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least two said columns will have a flow therein parallel in the connected to provide a parallel flow configuration.

7. A process for conducting reaction and separation in a material flow as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, having a separation/reaction process zone, wherein one or multiple columns are connected together separately inside of said separation/reaction process zone.

8. A process for conducting reaction and separation in a material flow as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, having a separation/reaction process zone, wherein one or multiple columns are connected together in a zone within said unit but outside of said separation/reaction process zone.

9. A process for conducting a reaction and separation in a material flow as set forth in claims 1, 2, 3 or 4, having a separation/reaction process zone, wherein one or more said columns are connected to provide a flow pattern selected from the group consisting of:

reverse flow, parallel flow, a separated reaction zone inside of a separation/reaction process zone, separated reaction zone in a zone within said unit but outside of said separation/reaction process zone, and a combination of any one or more of these configurations.

3. In a process using a liquid-solid contacting apparatus having a plurality of packed columns, each of which has a supply conduit and a discharge conduit adapted for connection to a disk having a plurality of ports for connection being associated with supply and discharge conduits, said columns or said disk being mounted for rotation about an axis so that by rotation said conduits and said ports in the disk are alignable for direct flow communication therebetween such that, a plurality of supply and discharge conduits communicate with associated other supply and discharge conduits of the columns, and by synchronizing rotation of at least the columns and the disk, the improvement therein comprising flowing a process material through each of said columns to react and separate said flow material.

4. In a process using a liquid-solid contacting apparatus having a multiport rotary valve for directing fluid streams comprising:

(a) a first head having opposed surfaces, comprising at least two first ports located on the same surface for connection with an external fluid stream, and having a separate channel associated with each first port leading to a second port corresponding to the first port and located on the surface opposite the first port;

(b) a rotatable second head having at least two third ports each in communication with a separate second port and channel and located on a surface in contact with the surface of the first head containing the second ports, said third ports leading to an inlet or outlet of a chamber containing a fluid-solid contacting medium so as to form a fluid seal between the chamber and an external fluid stream; and

(c) a drive for rotating at least one of said heads to interconnect a selected external fluid stream with a selected chamber for a predetermined period of time before permitting interconnection of said external fluid stream with a different chamber;

(d) the ports being configurable to permit said external fluid streams to be delivered to multiple or successive chambers in series or in parallel or to bypass a selected chamber simultaneous with the delivery of other external fluid streams;

the improvement therein comprising flowing a process material through said chambers to react and separate said flow material.