초록 ▼

Molecularly adsorbed volatile liquid compounds are recovered from molecular sieve adsorbent columns by directionally applying microwave energy to the bed of the adsorbent to produce a mixed liquid-gas effluent. The gas portion of the effluent generates pressure within the bed to promote the discharg

Molecularly adsorbed volatile liquid compounds are recovered from molecular sieve adsorbent columns by directionally applying microwave energy to the bed of the adsorbent to produce a mixed liquid-gas effluent. The gas portion of the effluent generates pressure within the bed to promote the discharge of the effluent from the column bottoms. Preferably the discharged liquid-gas effluent is collected in two to three separate fractions, the second or intermediate fraction having a substantially higher concentration of the desorbed compound than the first or third fractions. The desorption does not need to be assisted by passing a carrier gas through the bed or by applying reduced pressure to the outlet from the bed.

대표청구항 ▼

The method of recovering a volatile liquid compound molecularly adsorbed within porous granules of a molecular sieve adsorbent from a dilute liquid solution thereof, said granules having a relatively low dielectric loss compared to that of the adsorbed liquid and being arranged in a bed contained in

The method of recovering a volatile liquid compound molecularly adsorbed within porous granules of a molecular sieve adsorbent from a dilute liquid solution thereof, said granules having a relatively low dielectric loss compared to that of the adsorbed liquid and being arranged in a bed contained in a column providing head space above and collection space below the bed, upper access port means communicating with said head space, and lower access port means communicating with said collection space, said bed containing residual portions of said dilute liquid solution, comprising, with the upper port means closed and the lower port means open, directionally applying microwave energy to the bed upper portion and to successive portions thereof to selectively heat the adsorbed liquid compound within said granules for desorption thereof, the amount of applied microwave energy being sufficient to volatilize only part of the adsorbed compound within said granules to expell a liquid-gas effluent, said bed at the start of said microwave application being at a temperature at which the adsorbed compound is in a liquid state, the gas portion of the effluent creating a pressure in the bed upper portion pushing the effluent toward the bed lower portion, removing the liquid-gas effluent through a lower port, and separately collecting first and second portions of the removed liquid-gas effluent, said second portion having a substantially higher concentration of the desorbed compound than said first portion.