Process for fluid/dense gas extraction under enhanced solubility conditions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A continuous liquid-dense gas extraction process comprising the steps of:
- a. supplying an extraction solvent comprising a dense gas to an extraction column, wherein the extraction column has a diameter greater than about 3.5 centimeters and a height to diameter ratio greater than about 5 and operates in an enhanced solubility region having a pressure of between 450 and 1200 bar and at a temperature between 50 and 300°
C.;
b. supplying a fluid feed comprising at least one solute and a carrier fluid to the extraction column, wherein the fluid feed and the extraction solvent are supplied to the extraction column with a countercurrent flow and are intimately contacting one another a sufficient amount of time to extract the at least one solute from the carrier fluid to the extraction solvent;
the carrier fluid comprises at least one component being barely soluable in the extraction solvent and is substantially immiscible with the extraction solvent so as to provide two phases, and the at least one solute is selective to the extraction solvent with respect to the carrier fluid;
c. removing from the extraction column a raffinate comprising the carrier fluid; and
d. removing from the extraction column an extract comprising the extraction solvent and the at least one solute;
whereby the combination of pressure and temperature is sufficient for the solubility of the at least one solute in the extraction solvent to be at least 250% by weight greater than the solubility of the at least one solute in the extraction solvent at the same operating temperature and 200 bar pressure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid/dense gas extraction column process providing intimate contact between a dense gas and a fluid feed containing a solute and operating in an enhanced solubility region provides solubility of a solute in the dense gas to be at least 250% by weight greater than the solubility of the solute in the dense gas at the same operating temperature and 200 bar pressure. The enhanced solubility region for carbon dioxide is a pressure range of between 450 and 1200 bar in combination with a temperature range between 50 and 300° C. The column has a diameter greater than about 3.5 centimeters and a height to diameter ratio greater than about 5.
79 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. A continuous liquid-dense gas extraction process comprising the steps of:
-
a. supplying an extraction solvent comprising a dense gas to an extraction column, wherein the extraction column has a diameter greater than about 3.5 centimeters and a height to diameter ratio greater than about 5 and operates in an enhanced solubility region having a pressure of between 450 and 1200 bar and at a temperature between 50 and 300°
C.;b. supplying a fluid feed comprising at least one solute and a carrier fluid to the extraction column, wherein the fluid feed and the extraction solvent are supplied to the extraction column with a countercurrent flow and are intimately contacting one another a sufficient amount of time to extract the at least one solute from the carrier fluid to the extraction solvent;
the carrier fluid comprises at least one component being barely soluable in the extraction solvent and is substantially immiscible with the extraction solvent so as to provide two phases, and the at least one solute is selective to the extraction solvent with respect to the carrier fluid;c. removing from the extraction column a raffinate comprising the carrier fluid; and d. removing from the extraction column an extract comprising the extraction solvent and the at least one solute; whereby the combination of pressure and temperature is sufficient for the solubility of the at least one solute in the extraction solvent to be at least 250% by weight greater than the solubility of the at least one solute in the extraction solvent at the same operating temperature and 200 bar pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A continuous extraction process comprising the step of countercurrently and intimately contacting a fluid feed comprising at least one solute and a carrier fluid with supercritical carbon dioxide in an extraction column a sufficient amount of time to extract the at least one solute from the carrier fluid to the supercritical carbon dioxide, wherein the carrier fluid comprises substantially water, the at least one solute is selective to the supercritical carbon dioxide with respect to the carrier fluid, and the extraction column operates in an enhanced solubility region at a pressure of between 600 and 850 bar and at a temperature between 80 and 250°
- C. and has a diameter greater than about 3.5 centimeters and a height to diameter ratio greater than about 5;
whereby the combination of pressure and temperature is sufficient for the solubility of the at least one solute in the supercritical carbon dioxide to be at least 250% by weight greater than the solubility of the at least one solute in the supercritical carbon dioxide at the same operating temperature and 200 bar pressure. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
- C. and has a diameter greater than about 3.5 centimeters and a height to diameter ratio greater than about 5;
Specification