US4265642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process of removal of solvent vapors
Assignee: Kovalus Separation Solutions LLC
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Filing: 1980-02-14
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Granted: 1981-05-05
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Expires: 2000-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A process for removing volatile vapor solvents, particularly from paint-spray booths and paint dryers, and recovering such solvents, which process comprises: intimately contacting the solvent-laden air with a multiphase scrubbing media, particularly a water stream containing an oil-in-water emulsion or a surfactant or a powdered activated carbon, to capture and to dissolve the solvent vapor in the dispersed phase of the scrubbing media in a gas scrubber; removing the solvent-enriched scrubbing media and concentrating the solvent-enriched scrubbing media employing an ultrafiltration device; stripping the solvent from the concentrated solvent-enriched scrubbing media from the ultrafiltration device to remove and recover the solvent, while recycling the scrubbing media for further contact with fresh solvent-laden air; and recycling the water carrier as a permeate for reuse in contacting the solvent-laden air.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon Mir
- 👤 Joseph Zahka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:30
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/14; B01D53/1493; B01D47/00; B01D47/06; B01D53/1425; B01D53/1487; B05; B05B; B05B14/00; B05B14/40; B05B14/49; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/46
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
274 words
A process for the removal of a volatile organic solvent from a solvent-laden air stream, which process comprises: (a) intimately contacting and scrubbing the solvent-laden air stream with an aqueous, multiple-phase scrubbing media to provide a solvent-lean air stream and a solvent-rich scrubbing media, the scrubbing media comprising a surfactant-containing oil-in-water emulsion which forms micelles in the water phase of the emulsion, and wherein the solvent is dissolved in the oil portion of the oil-in-water emulsion in the solvent-rich scrubbing media; (b) discharging the solvent-lean air stream; (c) concentrating the solvent-rich scrubbing media in a low-pressure ultrafiltration-membrane unit having a feed zone and a permeate zone separated by a membrane which permits the passage of water, but retards the passage of the micelle portion of the oil-in-water emulsion of the scrubbing media, to provide a concentrated, solvent-rich scrubbing media in the feed zone and permeate water which passes through the membrane into the permeate zone; (d) heating the concentrated solvent-rich scrubbing media to a temperature to volatilize the solvent, but insufficient to destabilize the oil-in-water emulsion from which the solvent is removed, to form a solvent vapor and a concentrated solvent-lean scrubbing media; (e) condensing the solvent vapor; and (f) continuously recycling the concentrated solvent-lean surfactant oil-in-water scrubbing media and the permeate water from the permeate zone for use in the contacting and scrubbing of the solvent-laden air stream, to reconstitute a scrubbing media for use in the contacting and scrubbing steps, whereby the volatile organic solvent is condensed, a solvent-lean air stream is discharged and the multiple-phase scrubbing media is continuously recycled and reused in removing the solvent from the solvent-laden air stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
274 words
A process for the removal of a volatile organic solvent from a solvent-laden air stream, which process comprises: (a) intimately contacting and scrubbing the solvent-laden air stream with an aqueous, multiple-phase scrubbing media to provide a solvent-lean air stream and a solvent-rich scrubbing media, the scrubbing media comprising a surfactant-containing oil-in-water emulsion which forms micelles in the water phase of the emulsion, and wherein the solvent is dissolved in the oil portion of the oil-in-water emulsion in the solvent-rich scrubbing media; (b) discharging the solvent-lean air stream; (c) concentrating the solvent-rich scrubbing media in a low-pressure ultrafiltration-membrane unit having a feed zone and a permeate zone separated by a membrane which permits the passage of water, but retards the passage of the micelle portion of the oil-in-water emulsion of the scrubbing media, to provide a concentrated, solvent-rich scrubbing media in the feed zone and permeate water which passes through the membrane into the permeate zone; (d) heating the concentrated solvent-rich scrubbing media to a temperature to volatilize the solvent, but insufficient to destabilize the oil-in-water emulsion from which the solvent is removed, to form a solvent vapor and a concentrated solvent-lean scrubbing media; (e) condensing the solvent vapor; and (f) continuously recycling the concentrated solvent-lean surfactant oil-in-water scrubbing media and the permeate water from the permeate zone for use in the contacting and scrubbing of the solvent-laden air stream, to reconstitute a scrubbing media for use in the contacting and scrubbing steps, whereby the volatile organic solvent is condensed, a solvent-lean air stream is discharged and the multiple-phase scrubbing media is continuously recycled and reused in removing the solvent from the solvent-laden air stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the oil-in-water emulsion comprises a surfactant-stabilized, hydrocarbon, oil-in-water emulsion, wherein the hydrocarbon oil represents from about 0.5% to 20% by weight of the multiple-phase scrubbing media.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the concentrated solvent-rich oil-in-water emulsion of the scrubbing media comprises from about 30% to 60% by volume of the scrubbing media.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the volatile solvent comprises acetone, methylethyl ketone, toluene, xylene, benzene, ethyl acetate and mixtures thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the solvent-laden air stream is derived from a paint-spray booth or oven.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 1 which includes continuously introducing from about 5% to 25% by volume of the solvent-rich scrubbing media into the feed zone of the membrane unit and continuously recycling the remaining portion of the solvent-rich scrubbing media for use in contacting and scrubbing the solvent-laden air stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The process of claim 1 which includes introducing water or make-up scrubbing media to the scrubbing media to make up for loss of water or scrubbing media, prior to contacting and scrubbing the solvent-laden air stream.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 1 which includes reconstituting the scrubbing media by admixing the recycled permeate water and the recycled, concentrated, solvent-lean scrubbing media, prior to the contacting and scrubbing steps.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The process of claim 1 which includes contacting and scrubbing the solvent-laden air stream in a gas scrubber, wherein the multiple-phase scrubbing media is sprayed into the solvent-laden air stream.
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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) | 1984-05-04 | 1984-11-03 | 1985-05-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-05-04 | 1988-11-03 | 1989-05-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-05-04 | 1992-11-03 | 1993-05-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |