Processes for isolating or purifying propylene glycol, ethylene glycol and products produced therefrom

• US 8,143,458 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Original Assignee: Archer Daniels Midland Company
• Inventors: Kalagias, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): WITHERSPOON, SIKARL A
• Application Number:
  US11/926,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20080275277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 568/868, 568/861, 568/854, 203/57, 203/68, 202/152
• US Class Current: 568/854
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 3/14 Fractional distillation or use of a fractionation or rectification column
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/82 by azeotropic distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 29/84 by extractive distillation
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/202 Ethylene glycol
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 31/205 1,3-Propanediol; 1,2-Propanediol
• CPC Class Codes: C11D 3/2041 Dihydric alcohols

Abstract

Processes for separating butanediols from glycols are disclosed, as well as products and compositions resulting therefrom.

Claims

1. A process for isolating or purifying bio-based propylene glycol, the process comprising:

placing the bio-based propylene glycol, and a polar solvent in an apparatus;

distilling the bio-based propylene glycol, and the polar solvent in the apparatus; and

collecting the distilled bio-based propylene glycol, the distilled bio-based propylene glycol containing less than 0.2 weight percent of butanediols combined.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the polar solvent is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, iso-butanol, amyl alcohol, water, acetone, lactic acid, acetic acid, butyric acid, gluconic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and any combinations thereof.

3. The process of claim 1, further comprising subjecting the collected bio-based propylene glycol, to a further purification or isolation process.

4. The process of claim 1, wherein the polar solvent has;

a Hansen P solubility parameter greater than 12, a Hansen H solubility parameter greater than 15, a ratio of the Hansen P solubility parameter to the Hansen H solubility parameter of less than 0.5, or any combination thereof.

5. The process of claim 1, further comprising producing the bio-based propylene glycol from bio-based glycerol.