Abstract:
A process and apparatus which reduces the fines in a liquid discharge stream and/or increases the dryness of a solids discharge stream while under a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid. There is provided a process for separating particles such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate from a liquid in a slurry comprising: a. feeding a slurry comprising solid particles and a liquid into a within a separation zone maintained at a pressure equal to or greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid; b. contacting the slurry in the separation zone with a porous filter, optionally a microfilter, nanofilter, reverse osmosis filter, or ultrafilter, and separating liquid from the particles, wherein the liquid flows through the filter into an outer annulus defined as a space between the wall of the separation device and the filter, and said porous filter optionally having a terminal point beyond which the separated liquid does not pass from the outer annulus back through the filter; c. accumulating no liquid in the outer annulus or accumulating liquid in the outer annulus at a level below or in front of the terminal point, and continuously discharging the separated liquid from the outer annulus through a liquid outlet; d. decoupling the particles from the separation zone through the solids outlet to a low pressure below the vapor pressure of the liquid at the liquid temperature within the separation zone while maintaining a pressure on the particles prior to decoupling at or above the vapor pressure of the liquid within the separation zone.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for heating a secondary oxidizer with steam. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process for heating a secondary oxidizer with steam in a process for the production of a crystallized product. A process to produce a crystallized product comprises the following steps (a) oxidizing in an primary oxidation zone an aromatic feedstock to produce a crude carboxylic acid slurry; (b) oxidizing said crude carboxylic acid slurry in a post oxidation zone in the presence of steam to form a post oxidation product; (c) purifying said post oxidation product to a decolorized post oxidation product; and (d) crystallizing in a crystallization zone said post oxidation product to form a crystallized product.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process for the production of terephthalic acid by a plurality of process steps including the catalyst oxidation of a dialkylbenzene compound, a second oxidation, a hydrogenation of the product of the second oxidation, and crystallization of the hydrogenation terephthalic acid using a plurality of series-connected crystallizers.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed that relates to the removal of impurities, specifically benzoic acid, from a mother liquor produced in the synthesi of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic acid.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently producing and purifying aromatic dicarboxylic acids (e.g., terephthalic acid). The optimized system employs at least one zoned slurry concentrator to enhance purification of the aromatic dicarboxylic acid.
Abstract:
A process is disclosed that relates to the recovery of a metal catalyst from an oxidizer purge stream produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic. More particularly, the process involves recovery of a metal catalyst from an oxidizer purge stream through the use of a pressure filter, the combining of water with a mother liquor to recover the metal catalyst and then subjecting an aqueous mixture so formed to a single stage extraction with an extraction solvent to produce an extract stream comprising organic impurities and a raffinate stream comprising the metal catalyst.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process by which a carboxylic acid/diol mixture is obtained from a slurry or cake carboxylic acid product without isolation of a substantially dry carboxylic acid solid. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process by which a terephthalic acid/ethylene glycol mixture suitable as a starting material for polyester or co-polyester production is obtained from a slurry or cake terephthalic acid product without isolation of a substantially dry terephthalic acid solid.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a process to produce a purified carboxylic acid slurry. The process comprises removing impurities from a crystallized product in a solid liquid displacement zone to form the purified carboxylic acid slurry. The process produces purified carboxylic acid slurry having good color and low impurity levels without the use of purification steps like hydrogenation or an impurity removal process.
Abstract:
Polyester compositions are disclosed that include polyester polymers or copolymers having incorporated therein titanium nitride particles that improve the reheat properties of the compositions. Processes for making such compositions are also disclosed. The titanium nitride particles are made from titanium oxide particles by heating the titanium oxide particles in a nitrogen -containing gas to a temperature sufficient to convert at least a portion of the titanium oxide particles to titanium nitride particles. The particles are then mixed with a liquid carrier to obtain a slurry of titanium nitride particles, and the slurry is introduced to a polyester polymerization process to obtain a polyester composition having improved reheat.