Distillation: processes, separatory inventions 05/09

20090127091 - Water treatment method for heavy oil production: A process for treating produced water to generate high pressure steam. Produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is treated by first removing oil and grease. Pretreated produced water is then fed to an evaporator. Up to 95% or more of the pretreated produced water stream is evaporated to produce... Agent: R. Reams Goodloe, P.s.

20090127092 - Systems and methods for recovery of ethanol: The various embodiments of the present invention provide improved systems and methods for producing or collecting fuel grade ethanol from fermentation products. The systems and methods disclosed herein make use of extractive distillation to separate the ethanol from other components, such as water. In producing fuel grade ethanol, the systems... Agent: Troutman Sanders LLP Bank Of America Plaza

20090120780 - Splitter with multi-stage heat pump compressor and inter-reboiler: A splitter system is disclosed that produces a product stream from a mixed stream of two materials with similar boiling points. A multi-stage heat pump compressor is used in combination with a bottoms reboiler and an intermediate reboiler resulting in reduced utility consumption. The appropriately placed intermediate reboiler enables use... Agent: Honeywell International Inc Patent Services

20090114522 - Method of minimizing aldehyde-based impurities in a process stream: Oxidation of an alkane to an alkanone in a process stream forms aldehyde-based impurities. A method of minimizing the aldehyde-based impurities introduces an amine into the process stream to minimize the aldehyde-based impurities. The amine interacts with the alkanone and the aldehyde-based impurities thereby forming heavy products. The method separates... Agent: Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP

20090114523 - Method for treating condensates form polycodensates: The invention relates to a method for treating vapours and condensates which arise during the production of polycondensates from bisphenols or high-value phenols by esterification and/or transesterification with alkyl or aryl esters of at least bivalent organic or inorganic acids. According to the invention, the treatment is carried out in... Agent: K.f. Ross P.C.

20090114524 - Heat pump distillation: A distillation column is disclosed with a folded design. The column includes a plurality of rectification zones and corresponding stripping zones Each rectification zone is linked to a heat pump or a stage of a heat pump. Overhead vapor from the top rectification zone is compressed and used to heat... Agent: Honeywell International Inc Patent Services