US4437938A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for recovering ethylene oxide from aqueous solutions
Assignee: Scientific Design LLC
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Filing: 1981-07-17
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Granted: 1984-03-20
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Expires: 2001-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Ethylene oxide is recovered from aqueous solutions by extracting with carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super-critical state, thereby selectively removing the ethylene oxide from water, and thereafter recovering ethylene oxide from the carbon dioxide by distillation or other suitable means.
Inventors
- 👤 Vijay S. Bhise
- 👤 Robert Hoch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:23
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07D; C07D301/00; C07D301/32; B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/04; B01D11/0403; B01D11/0407
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A process for recovering ethylene oxide from aqueous solutions comprising: (a) contacting said aqueous solution of ethylene oxide with a solvent comprising carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super-critical state to selectively absorb ethylene oxide relative to water and; (b) separating the ethylene oxide-containing carbon dioxide of (a) from the ethylene oxide-depleted aqueous solution and thereafter; (c) recovering the ethylene oxide from the separated ethylene oxide-containing carbon dioxide of (b).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for recovering ethylene oxide from aqueous solutions comprising: (a) contacting said aqueous solution of ethylene oxide with a solvent comprising carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super-critical state to selectively absorb ethylene oxide relative to water and; (b) separating the ethylene oxide-containing carbon dioxide of (a) from the ethylene oxide-depleted aqueous solution and thereafter; (c) recovering the ethylene oxide from the separated ethylene oxide-containing carbon dioxide of (b).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process of claim 1 wherein said recovery process of (c) comprises reducing the pressure of step (b) and distilling the carbon dioxide from the ethylene oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process of claim 2 wherein the pressure of steps (a) and (b) is about 35-300 kg/cm 2 gauge and the pressure of step (c) is about 30-75 kg/cm 2 gauge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process of claim 1 wherein an adulterant gas is included during recovery step (c) to increase the critical temperature of the mixture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
In the process for recovering ethylene oxide from the gaseous effluent of the vapor-phase catalyzed oxidation of ethylene where said ethylene oxide is absorbed from said gaseous effluent into an aqueous recirculating stream and thereafter recovered from the ethylene oxide-rich aqueous stream, the improvement which comprises contacting said ethylene oxide-rich aqueous steam with carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super critical state to selectively absorb the ethylene oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
In the process for recovering ethylene oxide from the gaseous effluent of the vapor-phase catalyzed oxidation of ethylene where said ethylene oxide is absorbed from said gaseous effluent into an aqueous recirculating stream and thereafter recovered from the ethylene oxide-rich aqueous stream, the improvement which comprises contacting said ethylene oxide-rich aqueous steam with carbon dioxide in the near-critical or super critical state to selectively absorb the ethylene oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process of claim 5 wherein the pressure of said carbon dioxide contacting is about 35-300 kg/cm 2 and the temperature is about 0°-100° C.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-20 | 1987-09-19 | 1988-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-20 | 1991-09-19 | 1992-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-20 | 1995-09-19 | 1996-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |