Supercritical separation process for complex organic mixtures
First Claim
1. A process for separating low molecular weight components having a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 400, from complex aqueous organic mixtures comprising:
- preparing a separation solution of supercritical carbon dioxide with an effective amount of a low boiling point entrainer selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, acetone, methylethylketone, tetrahydrofuran and methyl-t-butyl ether to modify the solvation power of said supercritical carbon dioxide and extract preselected low molecular weight components;
maintaining said separation solution at a temperature of at least about 70°
C. and a pressure of at least about 1500 psi;
contacting said separation solution with said organic mixtures while maintaining said temperature and pressure until the mixtures and solution reach equilibrium to extract said preselected low molecular weight components from said organic mixtures; and
isolating the entrainer/extracted components portion from said separation solution by reducing the pressure, lowering the temperature, or a combination of reducing the pressure and lowering the temperature.
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Abstract
A process is disclosed for separating low molecular weight components from complex aqueous organic mixtures. The process includes preparing a separation solution of supercritical carbon dioxide with an effective amount of an entrainer to modify the solvation power of the supercritical carbon dioxide and extract preselected low molecular weight components. The separation solution is maintained at a temperature of at least about 70° C. and a pressure of at least about 1,500 psi. The separation solution is then contacted with the organic mixtures while maintaining the temperature and pressure as above until the mixtures and solution reach equilibrium to extract the preselected low molecular weight components from the organic mixtures. Finally, the entrainer/extracted components portion of the equilibrium mixture is isolated from the separation solution.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A process for separating low molecular weight components having a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 400, from complex aqueous organic mixtures comprising:
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preparing a separation solution of supercritical carbon dioxide with an effective amount of a low boiling point entrainer selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, acetone, methylethylketone, tetrahydrofuran and methyl-t-butyl ether to modify the solvation power of said supercritical carbon dioxide and extract preselected low molecular weight components; maintaining said separation solution at a temperature of at least about 70°
C. and a pressure of at least about 1500 psi;contacting said separation solution with said organic mixtures while maintaining said temperature and pressure until the mixtures and solution reach equilibrium to extract said preselected low molecular weight components from said organic mixtures; and isolating the entrainer/extracted components portion from said separation solution by reducing the pressure, lowering the temperature, or a combination of reducing the pressure and lowering the temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A process for extracting low molecular weight components having a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 400, from complex polyhydroxycarboxylic acid mixtures derived from biomass processing streams, said process comprising:
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admixing a solution of supercritical carbon dioxide and an effective amount of a low boiling point organic entrainer selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, acetone, methylethylketone, tetrahydrofuran and methyl-t-butyl ether to modify the solvation power of said supercritical carbon dioxide and extract preselected low molecular weight components; maintaining said carbon dioxide solution at a temperature of about 70°
-150°
C. and a pressure of 1500-4000 psi, said carbon dioxide remaining at or about its supercritical level during the extraction phase;contacting said carbon dioxide/entrainer solution with said polyhydroxy-carboxylic acid mixtures while maintaining said temperature and pressure until said solution is in equilibrium with said mixtures to extract said preselected low molecular weight components from said mixtures; and isolating the entrainer/extracted components from said solution by reducing the pressure, lowering the temperature, or a combination of reducing the pressure and lowering the temperature. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A process for separating preselected low molecular weight lignin fragments, having a molecular weight in the range of 150 to 400, from soluble lignin-containing mixtures and complex polyhydroxycarboxylic acid comprising:
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preparing a solution of supercritical carbon dioxide and an effective amount of a low boiling point organic entrainer selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, acetone, methylethylketone, tetrahydrofuran and methyl-t-butyl ether at a temperature of about 70°
-150°
C. and at a pressure of about 1500-4000 psi to maintain the carbon dioxide solution at or above its supercritical level and selectively extract the desired fragments;contacting the carbon dioxide/entrainer solution with the lignin-containing mixture until the solution and mixture are in equilibrium to extract the preselected low molecular weight fragments from the mixture; and isolating the entrainer/extracted fragments from the solution, by reducing the pressure, lowering the temperature, or a combination of reducing the pressure and lowering the temperature. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification