US 11,767,290 B2
Method for removing SO3 and CH4 from mixtures which contain methane sulfonic acid
Alan K. Richards, Palm City, FL (US); and John R. Jackson, Wilmington, NC (US)
Assigned to Veolia North America Regeneration Services, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Veolia North America Regeneration Services, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/714,310.
Application 17/714,310 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/224,566, filed on Apr. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332679 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. C07C 303/44 (2006.01); B01J 19/00 (2006.01); B01J 19/24 (2006.01); B01D 19/00 (2006.01); B01D 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 303/44 (2013.01) [B01D 3/143 (2013.01); B01D 19/0005 (2013.01); B01D 19/0036 (2013.01); B01D 19/0063 (2013.01); B01D 19/0068 (2013.01); B01J 19/0006 (2013.01); B01J 19/2465 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00051 (2013.01); B01J 2219/00162 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for recovering a distillable, anhydrous methane-sulfonic acid (MSA) liquid phase from an anhydrous 2-phase gas-liquid feed stream, said 2-phase gas-liquid feed stream having an initial pressure in a range of from 100 psi up to 2000 psi, and a temperature in the range of from 40° C. up to 90° C. wherein:
(i) the liquid phase of the gas-liquid feed stream comprises a mixture of MSA, dissolved methane, SO3, and, optionally, H2SO4, and
(ii) the gas phase of the gas-liquid feed stream comprises methane and SO3, said method comprising:
(A) separating the gas phase from the liquid phase by reducing the pressure of the gas and liquid phases to a value which is at least 2 up to 10 psi below the initial pressure in the 2-phase gas-liquid feed stream;
(B) passing the separated liquid phase into a stripping column while simultaneously passing a stripping gas into the stripping column in countercurrent flow to the separated liquid phase, wherein the flow rate of stripping gas is in the range of from 3 to 10 moles of stripping gas per liter of SO3 in the separated liquid phase, and the temperature of the stripping column is in the range of from ambient up to 160° C., with the result that the SO3 concentration in the separated liquid phase which exits the stripping column has been reduced to a value in the range of from 5 ppm to 1000 ppm without the addition of water or any other reactive agent.