Supercritical separation process for complex organic mixtures

Patent · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:867567

Chum, Helena L ^[1]; Filardo, Giuseppe ^[2]

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1. Arvada, CO
2. Palermo, IT

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.degree. 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.

• Research Organization: MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• Assignee: Midwest Research Institute (Kansas City, MO)
• Patent Number(s): US 4964995
• OSTI ID: 867567
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/210/162/203/
500
70
amount
aqueous
aqueous organic
carbon
carbon dioxide
complex
complex organic
components
contacted
degree
dioxide
disclosed
effective
effective amount
entrainer
equilibrium
extract
extracted
finally
isolated
maintained
maintaining
mixture
mixtures
modify
molecular
molecular weight
organic
organic mixture
organic mixtures
portion
power
preparing
preselected
pressure
process
psi
reach
separating
separation
separation process
solution
solvation
supercritical
supercritical carbon
temperature
weight