Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing methyl formate by carbonylating methanol with carbon monoxide in a carbonylation reactor in the presence of a catalyst system containing alkali formate and alkali alcoholate, thereby obtaining a reaction mixture (R G ) which contains methyl formate, alkali formate, alkali alcoholate and optionally unreacted methanol and unreacted carbon monoxide and which is removed from the carbonylation reactor. The reaction mixture (R G ) contains at least 0.5 wt.% alkali alcoholate, based on the total weight of the reaction mixture (R G ), and the molar ratio of alkali formate to alkali alcoholate in the reaction mixture (R G ) is greater than 1.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a valve for carrying out a mass transfer process, which is accommodated in a separation tray comprising a top (3) and a bottom (5) tray, wherein a sluice (1) is configured between the top tray (3) and the bottom tray (5), wherein the valve (13) comprises a closing element (11) which is designed such that an opening (9) in the bottom tray (5) of the sluice (1) can be closed with the closing element (11) in a first valve position, so that fluid can flow from the upper tray (3) into the sluice (1), and the opening (9) in the lower tray (5) is open in a second valve position, and an opening (7) in the top tray (3) is open so that gas can flow through the sluice (1) and through the fluid on the top tray (3). The closing element (11) is configured in the form of a hood, which comprises a casing (23) having openings (21) which are positioned such that in the second valve position gas can flow through the openings (21) into the fluid on the top tray (3), and wherein a flue (15) is also comprised, wherein the closing element (11) configured as a hood and the flue (15) are designed such that the cross-section of the flue (15) is smaller than the cross-section of the closing element (11) configured as a hood, and wherein the flue (15) is connected to the bottom tray (5) of the sluice (1) and protrudes into the sluice (1), or wherein the flue (15) is connected to the closing element (11) configured as a hood.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fluid collector for use in a packing column, comprising at least one element for collecting (5) the fluid (element A) (5, 6) flowing out of the packing bed and at least one draw from the column (10), wherein all elements (5, 6) are at a distance from (7) the column wall (3) and optionally a separating wall, or at least one capture device is mounted above or in the fluid collector (5), so that fluid flowing downward on the wall in the collection direction is collected and passes by the elements A (5, 6). The invention further relates to a packing column for separating substance mixtures, comprising at least one fluid collector and draw according to the invention. The invention further relates to a method for separating one or more components from a substance mixture in at least one packing column according to the invention. The method is used particularly in order to obtain a highly pure product from a side draw or sump draw by means of the fluid collector according to the invention.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for carrying out a mass transfer process in a column (1) which comprises at least two separation trays (5), each separation tray (5) having an upper plate (7) and a lower plate (9), with a sluice (13) being formed between the plates (7, 9), and valves (11) that are designed such as to allow gas to flow through the separation tray (5), liquid from the upper plate (7) flowing into the sluice (13) when the gas flow is disrupted, and the liquid running off from the sluice (13) once the gas supply is re-established. The method comprises the following steps: (a) allowing gas issued through the valves (11) in the separation tray (5) to flow through a liquid that is present on the upper plate (7), the amount of gas being sufficiently large to prevent liquid from flowing back through the valve (11); (b) disrupting the gas supply such that the liquid flows into the sluice (13) through the valves (11); (c) continuing the gas supply, the valves (11) in the lower plate (9) being opened such that the liquid runs off from the sluice (13). The sluice (13) is dimensioned such that once the liquid has run off from the top plate (7) into the sluice (13) not more than 70% of the sluice (13) is filled with liquid. The invention also relates to a valve for carrying out said method.
Abstract:
Process for obtaining formic acid by thermal separation of a stream comprising formic acid and a tertiary amine (I), in which a liquid stream comprising formic acid and tertiary amine (I) is produced by combining tertiary amine (I) and a formic acid source, secondary components comprised therein are separated off, formic acid is removed by distillation from the resulting liquid stream in a distillation apparatus, where the bottom output from the distillation apparatus is separated into two liquid phases, and the upper liquid phase is recirculated to the formic acid source and the lower liquid phase is recirculated to the separation of the secondary components and/or to the distillation apparatus, wherein low boilers are removed by distillation from the upper liquid phase and recirculated to the depleted stream.