Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from solvent streams including water and at least one impurity, comprising the steps of: (a) separating the solvent stream into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (b) separating impurity from the halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction of step (a), said separation including liquid-liquid extraction with water; (c) separating said impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon from said water fraction of step (a), said separation step including distillation and producing a product water; (d) recycling said product water from step (c) to the liquid-liquid extraction of step b) for contact with said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from solvent streams including water and at least one impurity, comprising the steps of: (a) separating the solvent stream into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (b) separating impurity from the halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction of step (a), said separation including liquid-liquid extraction with water; (c) separating said impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon from said water fraction of step (a), said separation step including distillation and producing a product water; (d) recycling said product water from step (c) to the liquid-liquid extraction of step b) for contact with said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said separation step (a) is decantation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said liquid-liquid extraction step of said impurity separation step (b) is followed by a second halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction separation step adapted to remove remaining water and impurity from said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction, and to product a halogenated hydrocarbon product.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 3, wherein said second halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction separation step comprises distillation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said second halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction separation step is conducted at a pressure of between about 15 PSIG and about 50 PSIG.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 5, wherein said elevated pressure is maintained by the introduction of nitrogen at said second halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction separation step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 4, wherein said halogenated hydrocarbon product from said second halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction separation step is further processed in a dehydration step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process of claim 2, wherein said water rich fraction separation step (c) comprises a first distillation step adapted to separate halogenated hydrocarbons from said water rich fraction and to produce a product water, followed by a second distillation step adapted to remove impurity from said water fraction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said halogenated hydrocarbons include at least one of chlorinated hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said impurity comprises at least one of the group consisting of ketones, alcohols and esters.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said ketones include acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, and methylisobutyl ketone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said alcohols include methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10, wherein said esters include ethylacetate, n-propylacetate and isopropylacetate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from solvent streams including said halogenated hydrocarbons, water, and at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of ketones, alcohols and esters, said process comprising the steps of: (a) separating said solvent stream into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing said impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (b) separating said impurity from said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction of step (a), said separation step including a liquid-liquid extraction step in which said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction is contacted with water; (c) separating halogenated hydrocarbon from said water rich fraction of step (a) in a first water rich fraction distillation step, said first water rich fraction distillation step producing an intermediate water product and a halogenated hydrocarbon product, said halogenated hydrocarbon product being returned to said separation step (a); (d) separating impurity from said intermediate water product of step (c) in a second water rich fraction distillation step, said second water fraction distillation step producing a water product and an impurity product; and, (e) returning at least a portion of the water product of step (d) to said liquid-liquid extraction of step (b).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
195 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from solvent streams including said halogenated hydrocarbons, water, and at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of ketones, alcohols and esters, said process comprising the steps of: (a) separating said solvent stream into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing said impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (b) separating said impurity from said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction of step (a), said separation step including a liquid-liquid extraction step in which said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction is contacted with water; (c) separating halogenated hydrocarbon from said water rich fraction of step (a) in a first water rich fraction distillation step, said first water rich fraction distillation step producing an intermediate water product and a halogenated hydrocarbon product, said halogenated hydrocarbon product being returned to said separation step (a); (d) separating impurity from said intermediate water product of step (c) in a second water rich fraction distillation step, said second water fraction distillation step producing a water product and an impurity product; and, (e) returning at least a portion of the water product of step (d) to said liquid-liquid extraction of step (b).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 14, wherein said separation step (a) is decantation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The process of claim 15, wherein said liquid-liquid extraction step of said separation step (b) is adapted to reduce the concentration of said impurity in said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction, and produces an intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product, said intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product being distilled in a distillation step to produce a halogenated hydrocarbon product and a water product, said water product being returned to said liquid-liquid extraction step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
241 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from steam and solvent vapors produced during the regeneration of a carbon adsorption bed, said steam and solvent vapors including said halogenated hydrocarbons and at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of ketones, alcohols and esters, said process comprising the steps of: (a) condensing said steam and solvent vapors; (b) separating said condensate of step (a) into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (c) separating said impurity from said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction in a liquid-liquid extraction step contacting said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction is contacted with water, and producing an impurity product and an intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product; (d) returning said impurity product of said liquid-liquid extraction of step (c) to said separation step (b); (e) separating water from said intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product, said separation comprising at least one distillation step; (f) separating halogenated hydrocarbon from said water rich fraction in a first water rich fraction distillation step, said first water rich fraction distillation step producing a halogenated hydrocarbon separation product and an intermediate water product containing impurity; (g) passing said halogenated hydrocarbon separation product of step (f) to said separation step (b); (h) separating said impurity from said intermediate water product of step (f) in a second water rich fraction distillation step, said second water rich fraction distillation step producing an impurity product and a water product.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
241 words
A process for recovering halogenated hydrocarbons from steam and solvent vapors produced during the regeneration of a carbon adsorption bed, said steam and solvent vapors including said halogenated hydrocarbons and at least one impurity selected from the group consisting of ketones, alcohols and esters, said process comprising the steps of: (a) condensing said steam and solvent vapors; (b) separating said condensate of step (a) into a halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction containing water and impurity, and a water rich fraction containing impurity and halogenated hydrocarbon; (c) separating said impurity from said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction in a liquid-liquid extraction step contacting said halogenated hydrocarbon rich fraction is contacted with water, and producing an impurity product and an intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product; (d) returning said impurity product of said liquid-liquid extraction of step (c) to said separation step (b); (e) separating water from said intermediate halogenated hydrocarbon product, said separation comprising at least one distillation step; (f) separating halogenated hydrocarbon from said water rich fraction in a first water rich fraction distillation step, said first water rich fraction distillation step producing a halogenated hydrocarbon separation product and an intermediate water product containing impurity; (g) passing said halogenated hydrocarbon separation product of step (f) to said separation step (b); (h) separating said impurity from said intermediate water product of step (f) in a second water rich fraction distillation step, said second water rich fraction distillation step producing an impurity product and a water product.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 17, wherein said at least a portion of the water product of step (h) is returned to the liquid-liquid extraction of step (c).