US4345973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vapor phase dehydration of aqueous alcohol mixtures
Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
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Filing: 1980-08-25
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Granted: 1982-08-24
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Expires: 2000-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for dehydration and/or enrichment of aqueous alcohol mixtures wherein the mixtures in the vapor state are contacted with a dehydration agent which is composed of cellulose, caboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues or mixtures thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael R. Ladisch
- 👤 George T. Tsao
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:05
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D3/00; B01D3/34; C; C07; C07C; C07C29/00; C07C29/74; C07C29/76; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S203/00; Y10S203/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A process for the dehydration of aqueous alcohol mixtures and separation of water therefrom which comprises contacting said mixtures while in the vapor state with a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process for the dehydration of aqueous alcohol mixtures and separation of water therefrom which comprises contacting said mixtures while in the vapor state with a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
10 words
The process of claim 1 wherein said alcohol is ethanol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the aqueous alcohol mixtures contain from 5 to 90% of ethanol.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process according to claim 2 wherein said aqueous alcohol mixture is a fermentation product containing from about 5 to 12 percent ethanol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process for the dehydration of aqueous ethanol mixtures and separation of ethanol therefrom which comprises heating said mixtures to produce a vapor of aqueous ethanol, contacting said vapor of aqueous ethanol with a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A process for the dehydration of aqueous ethanol mixtures and separation of ethanol therefrom which comprises heating said mixtures to produce a vapor of aqueous ethanol, contacting said vapor of aqueous ethanol with a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for the enrichment of aqueous alcohol mixtures which comprises passing an inert carrier gas stream through an aqueous alcohol mixture whereby a portion of said mixture is carried by said gas and thereafter passing the carrier gas stream containing aqueous alcohol vapor through a heated dehydration zone which contains a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water, and recovering the resulting enriched alcohol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A process for the enrichment of aqueous alcohol mixtures which comprises passing an inert carrier gas stream through an aqueous alcohol mixture whereby a portion of said mixture is carried by said gas and thereafter passing the carrier gas stream containing aqueous alcohol vapor through a heated dehydration zone which contains a dehydration agent selected from the group consisting of cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, cornmeal, cracked corn, corn cobs, wheat straw, bagasse, starch, hemicellulose, wood chips, other grains, other agricultural residues and mixtures thereof and recovering the alcohol with less than 5% water, and recovering the resulting enriched alcohol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A process according to claim 6 wherein said alcohol is ethanol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 6 or 7 wherein said inert carrier gas is selected from the group consisting of air, nitrogen and carbon dioxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 8 wherein said dehydration zone is heated to a temperature above the dew point of said alcohol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the zone is heated to about 90° 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) | 1985-08-23 | 1986-02-22 | 1986-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-23 | 1990-02-22 | 1990-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-23 | 1994-02-22 | 1994-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |